Good and Evil

Without God there is no good and/or evil. In fact God is in good, but evil is in devil

Good: Being positive or desirable in nature. Godly. True. Reliable. Appropriate.

Evil: Morally bad or wrong. Malicious. Degenerate. Wicked. Reprobate, sinful, vicious, heinous.

Satan, the devil would like us to do away with the concept of evil and in fact many people would claim there is no such thing as evil. Evil is, so they would say, an invention or judgment of religious people. If forced to give an example of evil they might very well choose Christians as a group. They of course would not think of themselves as being judgmental!

Let’s revisit the term, “Evil.” What does it mean to you and me as those, “Evil” Christians? For the answer to that we will need to open the Bible. But first let me say that evil is more than being wrong or bad. Evil is more like enjoying being bad, especially being intensely bad. Evil has utter disregard for God or people. Evil is much more than ordinary sinful acts where a person knows and cares to some extent that they have done wrong. Evil is not a hit and miss type thing. Evil is a way of life fully intent on doing wrong and couldn’t care less about how it affects others. We typically reserve the term, Evil” for special circumstances where we intend to make it clear that someone is particularly bad. That is how I am using the term today.

The King James Bible contrasts the terms, “Good” and “Evil” 97 times. Sixty-five times in the Old Testament and Thirty-two time in the New Testament. Obviously, good and evil are a matter of interest to God and such things exist absolutely whether we recognize them or not. Just to make the point here are two more statistics. The term, “Evil” occurs 612 times in 568 verses. The term, “Good” occurs 720 times in 655 verses. By contrast, “Love” occurs only 310 times in 280 verses.

You might say the entire Bible is about, good and evil. It begins in Genesis.

(Gen 2:9 KJV) And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

And the last time the two are contrasted is in 3 John.

(3 John 1:11 KJV) Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

We all have the knowledge of good and evil from a very young age. You might say it’s instinctive or intuitive but we have it from a very early age even in circumstances where we have not yet been taught. At some point evil people try to escape the consequences of their evil actions by lies and other forms of deceit. We know the devil is the father of lies and he is extremely evil. The devil is in evil people just as surely as God is in good people.

(Acts 19:15-16 KJV) And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? {16} And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

And yet it is not the devil that makes us evil but our own evil desires.

(Prov 11:6 NIV) The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.

(James 1:13-15 NIV) When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; {14} but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. {15} Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Since we are by nature bad or even evil how can we escape the consequences of our actions? Better yet how can we not engage in such actions?

(1 John 4:4 NIV) You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

(1 Cor 10:13 NIV) No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

(Psa 37:28 NIV) For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;

The answer is obvious follow the one that knows the way to eternal life and happiness and will take you there. Do not follow the one that knows the way to eternal damnation and will lead you there. Choose today whom you will follow. Choose today what your fate will be. Tomorrow may be too late!

I will close with these scriptures.

(Rom 12:18 NIV) If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

(Heb 12:14 NIV) Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

(Titus 3:1-2 NIV) Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, {2} to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.

(Prov 3:7 NIV) Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.