Good And Evil

by Jan 18, 2019Devotional1 comment

Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

      The arguments and discussions for what is considered good or evil have been and will be endlessly argued throughout history, as long as people who will not bow their hearts to God are determining the outcome of what good or evil is. What do all these scriptures have in common? 1 Kings 15:26, 2 Kings 13:2, 2 Kings 21:20, plus a bunch more that start the same way. They all start off with “He did evil in the eyes of the LORD.” Notice the evil is in the eyes of the Lord and not what the common census of the people say evil is. The starting point for understanding what evil is should be seen from God’s point of view.
      Evil exists because I exist. Evil exists because you exist. Have you ever made a decision to do what was wrong even when you knew it was wrong? Every human being on earth has made that sinful choice. The decision to sin by one’s own will is a decision for evil. Evil was chosen in my life because I exist and I am capable of evil and sinful choices, even when it is self-righteousness. Rom. 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Free will gives us the choice to follow what is evil, or what God says righteousness is.  
      The ad nauseam question “Why is there so much suffering in the world?” is easily answered. Suffering in this world is a result of evil. When we read the accounts of all the kings who did evil in the eyes of the Lord, the result was always suffering – for the kings themselves and the people who were part of the kingdoms. If the king hoarded and stole from his people, the people suffered by starving and dying of the diseases that come with sickness. If the king invaded another kingdom because of a desire for power, people were slaughtered to death with the sword. Suffering existed because the choice to do what was wrong in God’s eyes was done by choice regardless of God’s warnings.
      Nothing has changed to this day. People choose to sin and do what is evil, and the upshot is suffering. This is one of the results of our gift of free will that was given to us by God. If we want suffering to stop in this world, then we need to stop choosing sin over God’s righteousness. 2 Tim.3:1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents,ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. 
      We miss the point entirely when arguing over good and evil having the answers in themselves. Good and evil are of the same tree. Gen. 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eat thereof thou shalt surely die. It does not matter how much good or self-proclaimed goodness we do, it will never overtake the eternal effects that evil has caused. 
      
We are going in circles within the limited boundaries of the same tree when trying to cure evil with good. We must eat, so to speak, from another source or another tree entirely; the tree of life or a new position of life given to us through faith in Christ. This is what makes us the righteousness of God and gives us the power to overcome evil with righteousness. We are saved into doing the good works and not by the good works in themselves. Eph. 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
      Overcoming evil and suffering in this world is and should be our mandate throughout this life. However, this starts when we acknowledge and discern what God says evil is. God’s righteousness is a gift we cannot earn through good deeds. It is a grace-given gift from God Himself but must be accepted by faith in Christ. Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. Good and evil exist, but so does God’s righteousness. The only way to destroy the works and suffering caused by the evil one, is to do it with what God says works. God’s gift to man is Jesus the Lord and the righteousness that comes through Christ our Savior. 
      Arguing over good, evil, and suffering in themselves will never end, so stop eating from that tree and take a bite out of God’s tree of life. Stop and consider your creator and taste and see that He is righteously good and never evil. Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him. May the blessings of God find us and keep us in Him who first loved us. Amen!
Find Other Devotions About:

1 Comment

  1. Anonymous

    Thank you for your blog posts Sir Norm. They are a good read.

    Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sir Norm’s Proverbial Comment

Stop Watering Dead Plants

Fear Of Normal

Proverbs 10:24 What the wicked fears will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted. The amazing transformation that took place in the mind, body, and soul of the madman of Gadara is a powerful demonstration of the love and power of Jesus Christ....

The Best Day Of My Life

Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.              There are a lot of self-proclaimed gurus, life coaches, and mind-altering advisors these days vying for our attention. They claim we can create...

A Voice Of Understanding

Proverbs 8:1 Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?         John 1:23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ ” There is a vast wilderness of...

Fooled By Tomorrow

Proverbs 3:28 Do not say to your neighbour, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”— when you already have it with you.         I was talking with my friend David who over the last six months, has beat a few addictions and is still overcoming them day by day. I...

Honourable Mentions

Proverbs 18:24 A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.              In the Pastoral Epistle of 2 Timothy 1 verses 16 to 18, there is an honourable mention of the help Paul received from Onesiphorus. Who...

Just A Blanket

Proverbs 18:17 There are two sides to every story. The first one to speak sounds true until you hear the other side and they set the record straight.          In the fall of 1998, I was trying to understand the war between the Serbs and Croats, and like most ethnic...

Oh Goodness

Proverbs 2:9 Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and integrity — every good path.       When God appeared to Moses in the wilderness, why didn't God show Moses His perfection, righteousness, justice, or holiness? Of all the attributes that God could have...

A Real Tell-All Book

Proverbs 20:19 One who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a gossip.       I was shaking my head the other day when a news reporter was describing a new tell-all book about a person of celebrity status. The gist of the report was...

Satan Grins At Hidden Sins

Proverbs 28:13 He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy. I heard the expression, "We are as sick as our secrets.” and I was reminded of people who have chosen to walk in disobedience to God's directions and...

In Faith We Trust

Proverbs 13:13 He who despises the word will be destroyed, but he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.         Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who...

The Lie You Are Living

Proverbs 29:12 If a ruler pays attention to liars, all his advisers will be wicked.         The above proverb has an interesting twist to it. If I am living a lie, then my counsel or advice to myself will be corrupt because I will continue to propagate the lie I am...

Mythical Beings And Mysteries

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.              Mythical beings that have risen from folklore and superstition throughout history are strange and sometimes comical. Centaurs, vampires, werewolves,...

AudioReads

Darkness Bleeds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvnlBYHLQb0 It is easy to flow with the crowd. Make up your own mind on what you see going on in people's lives.

Spiritually Empty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrzTcPZcWQ8   If you find yourself spiritually empty, then fill yourself up with God and all that He has for you.

God In A Box

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFLy9PTBMNI We cannot contain God within any human device or box. However, we can have Him live in our hearts. How great is that?