The Truth About Evil
What is the truth about evil? And how do we move away from evil into a place of goodness and peace? These are important questions we will tackle in this post.
Have you ever thought about this question: What Is Evil? What is the truth about evil? This is a very weighty question! And one that we need to answer in our lives. Do you know and can you define what evil is? Not accidents or mistakes, but true moral evil. And where does it come from? This is not necessarily a feel-good topic, but today one we really should discuss.
Evil is the absence of God.
This is not the definitive word on evil or even a thorough definition. And it will not even begin to scratch the surface of this topic, but boiled down to its essence, evil is the absence of the God of the Bible.
How Does Evil Florish
When we push God out of our lives, out of our country, out of our world, He WILL leave. He will never force himself or His presence on anyone. And when God leaves, He leaves a great big V-O-I-D. It is in that void that evil flourishes, no abounds!
A Teaching From Jesus
Jesus, in the Sermon On The Mount, said…
“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, to show that you are the children of your Father in heaven, for He makes the sun shine on the wicked and the good, and makes the rain fall on the upright and the evildoers.”
Let’s highlight one part of this scripture that is not the main meaning of this passage, but will give us insight into good and evil.
Jesus says that God “makes the sun shine on the wicked and the good, and “makes the rain fall on the upright and the evildoers.” What Jesus is saying, and the Jews of the day would understand this, is God’s grace and goodness are on all people both good and evil. Rain in the bible can be a symbol of blessing.
In ancient times, God would withhold the rains when His people turned away from Him and acted evil. It was a sign to the people, a way of God saying, “You better watch and turn back to Me.”
That’s not to say that droughts today are God’s way of warning us about evil in our lives and the lives of nations. Here is what this passage is saying: God’s grace and mercy to everyone is a way of showing who He is and His love for all of us! And because of His great blessings, love, and mercy, all people should want to turn to Him.
The Hard Truth
But there are people who don’t accept, acknowledge, or believe in God or His great love and benevolence to all of us. They choose to turn their backs on Him and go their own way. And left to our own devices, we can begin a very dark spiral into evil, a pit without the presence of God!
The Fallout
When we take this deadly path, evil abounds. And the saddest thing is the consequences of evil, the fallout. It ripples out onto those around the wicked. Evil is not discriminating. It affects everyone: the evil, the good, the innocent! For example, we can easily see the horrific fallout of sin and evil on the lives of an abuser’s family. Innocents most often suffer! We have seen the heartbreaking fallout of evil in the violence in our own country and the horrific terroristic activity worldwide.
How To Stop Evil
Then how do we, as individuals, curb evil. The answer is easy.
Turn to the God of the Bible. The God of the Old and New Testament.
We all have a choice. God gave the same choice to the Jews centuries ago as they were just about to head into the promised land of Israel, the land God promised them according to His word. God said,
I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the cures. So choose life in order that you may live, and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him, for this is your life and length of days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your father, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them. Deut. 30: 19a
The Jews had a choice. To choose life or death, blessings or curses. Like a multiple-choice test. And God even gave them the correct answer!
- A. life and blessings
- B. death and curses
- C. Choose “A”
This test was not only for the ancient Jews. It’s for us, too.
What have you chosen? Evil is a sure sign of failing the test! But here is the great news: God will let us retake the test. He loves you and is waiting for you with open, nail-pierced hands.
Here’s what I’m meditating on this week..,
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Rom 12:21
Thank You for sharing this message. In todays world we need to put God back in the schools, government etc. We need him! Very thankful that he gives all of us many chances because of His great love for us to come to Him. Have a blessed week and Thank You for your Sunday Scripture.
Excellent word. Thank you.
I think, as believers, we all need to be reminded of simple truths. Evil is all around us with so much going on in the world and our country. I pray daily for our country. As much as we have pushed God out of our country, I’m surprised he hasn’t wiped us completely us out! I try now to daily focus on me and my relationship withHim. I’m also learning that abiding IN Him is the key from staying away from evil. Thank you for this message.
You have found a most precious truth, June. Yes abiding, being in a close personal relationship with our Lord, is the key!
It seems as tho evil has an upper hand now throughout the world. Good message this morning.
Yes, it does. But we must always remember, God is in conrtrol.
In English, the word evil usually connotes an extreme form of bad; however, in Hebrew, that is not necessarily so. The Hebrew adjective for evil is רַע (ra). The Hebrew adjective for wicked is רָשְׁע (rasha). Both have the sense of doing what is right in your own eyes. Even small things. All sin is evil. It is the same heart condition that leads to both small sins and large ones.
”Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.”
(1 John 3:4, ESV)
”One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”
(Luke 16:10, ESV)
Thank you! Yes youa re so right.
How very appropriate at this time, Yvonne. I believe the same. I never realized how much evil surrounds us and that we need to actively seek good. I pray to Michael the archangel each day for assistance in battling the evils of this world.
Margo, what a perfect prayer. Michael is the archangel over Israel.
Beautiful message. This same thing has been on my mind for some time now. We are a nation (and world) who has turned their backs on our God and we will reap what we sow. Thank you for reminding us about the timeliness of turning back to God and following his commandments.
God always waits for us and is ready to forgive those who are truely sorry.
Thank you!
Very good & also overcome evil with God’s truth. Evil or Satan is the father of lies and wants us to go along with the lies in order to be accepted, liked, not left alone. Doing good is not going along with the lies and not allowing others to lie to us. In order for evil to be defeated we must live and speak truth even when it is unpopular & will cost us.
Beautiful, thank you
You are welcome, Patricia