Ridding this World of Evil

Lawmakers of all stripes continue to make the case for the numerous rules and regulations government and politics put abroad that the primary purpose is to combat evil.  In even smaller circles you might hear a few of them express the idiotic ideas that making these laws will even eliminate evil.  It’s idiotic because it is not true and nor will anyone be able to completely erase evil from this world or any world.  Evil is in this world and all worlds to stay and there is nothing we can do about it except control it and not let it control us.  We do have the power to control and defeat evil and this power was given to us by the new covenant and the shedding of Jesus’ blood on the cross.

You do not have to believe me, just pick up your Bible and turn to 1st John chapter 5, verse 19 which tell us that “we know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one”.  The evil one that he speaks of is none other than Satan and since this is his world to control, evil will exist.  But we have the power and authority over evil and 1^st John Chapter 5 verse 18 assures us that because God’s son holds us securely, “the evil cannot touch us”.  So how can we mortals defeat evil?

2nd Thessalonian chapter 3 verse 3 answers that by saying “we need to have undying faith in God that if we strive to do right he will protect us from the evil one”.  Jesus’ brother James writes in chapter 1 verse 21 that “get rid of all filth and evil in your lives and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your soul”.  You see from the day of our conception, we have known of God which explains why as newborns we know right from wrong.  All we truly have to do is exercise it.  Some still feel a sense of weakness when it comes to evil and often times fail to understand just where evil comes from.

Mathews chapter 15 verse 19 through 20 helps us here by saying to understand what makes you evil or good you must first understand that it all comes from the heart.  Jesus said “for from the heart comes evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander.  These are what defiles you”.  Correct the heart and you control evil.  Cleanse the heart and you wash away any influence Satan or his followers have on you.  The light of goodness will always win out over the darkness of evil and no one knows that better than Satan.  This is why he uses every trick in the book to convince you that it’s no big deal to do evil and a little bit of evil has never harmed anyone.  For those who may wish to believe this look no further than the Book of John. 

In John chapter 3 verses 20, John reported that Jesus said “All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed”.  Paul reports in Romans chapter 2 verse 9 that  “There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil” and he takes it one step further by how to conquer evil in Romans chapter 12 verse 21 by saying “don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good”.  Finally 1^st Thessalonian chapter 5 verse 22 warns us to stay away from every kind of evil.  So still you insist that you have not a clue about how to avoid, control and exercise the power and authority over evil that Jesus gave you.

Okay then how about listening to Timothy who worked very closely with Paul the Apostle and writes this in 1^st Timothy chapter 6 verse 10 “for money is the root of all kinds of evil.  And people craving money, have wandered from the true faith and have pierced themselves with many sorrows”. We all know that money is a necessary evil but it surely need not be a controlling one.  Use it where it will do you and those around you good but do not worship it to the point where it ends up being what your entire existence in Satan’s world is all about.  Money is the strongest weapon that Satan has and the most devastating weapon he has over you.  Disarm him and take back control of your life by not letting money control you. 

Evil will always exist and there is nothing we can do about that.  But we can control how it affects us in our lives.  Evil comes in all forms, shapes and sizes.  It can mask itself to look like anything we want it to even speech which is why 1^st Peter chapter 3 verse 9 is even more important to pay attention to now than ever.  It says “don’t repay evil with evil.  Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you.  Instead pay them back with a blessing”.  Just as Jesus did with the Pharisees and religious leaders who made it a point to see him die on the cross, he never allowed himself to retaliate. 

Think about it, the Son of God’s power against the power of mere mortals.  Now honestly, if Jesus would have retaliated against them how do you think that battle would have gone?  He had the power to wipe them off the face of the earth and never used it.  Now we do not have that kind of power but we do have power, we have just got to choose not to use it against those who wrong us.  Besides, who better to take vengeance upon them than God Almighty, so step aside, smile and hand them over to God to deal with, we have more important things to deal with like saving our own souls and living in a manner befitting of the love God has for us.