Matthew 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
I got out of the Army and started selling cars right at the beginning of the recession in the late 80s. I had learned in the Army not to believe the news, nor pay attention to the old timers. All the seasoned, extremely well off car salesmen were standing around the TV as the newsman proclaimed with glee that we could possibly see the next Great Depression. I grabbed a customer. Salesmen came in late because we were on the verge of a great economic down turn, and business was bad. I grabbed a customer. Salesmen took off from work, to prepare for the upcoming evil days, I grabbed a customer. They went home early cause there was no business. I grabbed a late night customer. My best financial time ever was at the beginning of America’s ‘Next Great Depression’. I didn’t hang around talking to the ‘experts’ because I was too busy making more money than I ever made in my life. God used the ‘evil times’ to teach me that if you watch the news, you lose. To prepare me for the news of 2024 as well, I think. Not that I was right or the competition was wrong. But I think God not only taught me that the news is worthless, but also let me experience extreme success to know that everything is useless compared to the richness of God. Once I tasted God, everything else was all just dust. As the hymn says, ‘as the things of this earth grow strangely dim’
Evil is a necessary evil. In fact, God created evil, did you know that? Why? In this specific case, to force me to seek Him, and ignore opinions of others and the news.
Isaiah 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
Ever since a heavenly choir director was cast down from heaven, with a third of the angels, evil has been on earth. Between the German and Dutch languages, comes the word devil (the slanderer). Slanderers are evil too for that matter. The devil is pure evil. The majority of the letters in the word devil is evil. And all of the letters in evil is in the word devil. The devil is the embodiment of evil. And the created creature responsible for evil on the earth is the devil. God created the devil. Without evil, there is no goodness. God created the destroyer so He can save.
Isaiah 54:16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.
There is evil in this world. It’s all part of God’s design. Why? I only know that God is good, His mercy is forever. As the verse ‘Thy will be done’ drips off my lips as I was told I should, like water off the leaves of trees after a good rain. I completely trust God. But I don’t understand a lot. The angel of death passed over the Israelites in Egypt yet took Pharaoh’s first born son. The horror! But the real question is, where’s Pharaoh today? Answer, probably in hell. Where’s Pharaoh’s son? Probably in heaven. If he had lived long enough to be Pharaoh he would have probably ended up in hellfire. Sounds like a deal to me. We are too myopic to even begin to understand God’s will.
Psalm 136:10 To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:
We live in an evil world (devil controlled evil world). Masses of people are swarming the streets worldwide today applauding and cheering on terrorists, kidnappers, rapists and pedophiles because they hate God and His people. The whole pretense of whose land it is and who is justified is an enormous lie. But it’s in style so millions gullibly believe it. We are to call guys with mustaches wearing mini skirts ‘ma’am’ or ‘it’ or ‘them’ or something. (so confusing). Satan is the father of lies, yet we are expected to be informed about the flavor of the week as far as lies go. Who has time to keep up with it? I am only told to love them unconditionally, but I am not going to call a man a lady, cause that would be lying. The world approves of viciously murdering little tiny babies fighting for their lives by tearing them apart with tweezers. I can’t even pull a nose hair with tweezers without a tear rolling out of my eye. The world is proud of and encourages people blaspheming God. Lying is rampant and rewarded on the tv, radio, Internet and every other type of social media. Vanity (a haughty look) is the style. This type of pride, any type of pride, is evil in the sight of the Lord. Even religious pride. All evil. And us Christians must live and thrive in it until we go to heaven. Proverbs 6 pretty much sums it up.
Proverbs 6 There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
Evil is prevalent in this world, the devil governs the airwaves and will always be until Jesus comes back for the keys. The earth was rented out to the devil the moment that Adam and Eve obeyed him.
Ephesians 2:2-4 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in.
God said ‘don’t eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil’, but, instead, Adam and Eve paid attention to the devil’s evil lies. They totally disobeyed God’s goodness and wise counsel, surrendering the world into the control of Satan (the devil). We were born into it. We will live in it until we die. It’s part of our environment. We are born to go to hell with Satan and his angels. But Jesus came down to save us from that. Good news! The Gospel. God knows what we’re going through. God the Son lived among us to show us how to live in this world and to not sin. God called us to recognize evil but not to serve it. Don’t even look at evil, it will never look that bad. And it is a stone cold murderer. Eve looked and mankind fell into the hands of the devil!
Genesis 3:5 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
I choose just to ignore evil. When I started missions 30 years ago we had snail mail only. I lived on paper checks received in hot, sweaty and moldy adobe third world correos with bullet holes in the walls. My first year on the mission fields I lived on 60 dollars. Not 60 dollars a month. Just 60 dollars. The world was evil in the early 90’s. The world is evil in 2024. Other things have changed, but the evil hasn’t. Nicaragua and El Salvador were at the end of bloody civil wars. Narcos were working overtime to fund the remainder of the wars. Bodies could still be found in the streets along with hundreds of prostitutes. I spoke only a few words in Spanish. In fact I probably won more souls only with ‘Cristo te ama’ and ‘Que Dios te bendiga’ than I am winning now preaching long winded sermons. But evil is the same evil as always. It just changes appearances. Evil will never stop a child of God being led by God. Evil is used by God to bring us closer to Him.
Romans 8:14-17 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Evil stuff isn’t even worthy enough for us to look at or consider. I heard of a Godly man, a pastor in fact, who got interested in deviant psychology. (My major in fact). He left his faith. Probably read psychology books so much that he didn’t have time for his daily devotionals. We don’t need to study psychology to help crazy people. We don’t need to learn how to be a narco to minister to narcos. No need to study witchcraft to win a witch to the Lord. In fact they know their witch book or satanist bible better than you know the Word of God. You don’t have to study evil to fight evil. In fact, it will take you down an evil path. You need to spend time alone with the Lord, in His Word, to be aware of His presence and be guided by Him. God will show you what to do. Ignore evil. It’s just a pest sent by the devil. Focus on Jesus.
Romans 16:19-20 Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.