When Evil Befalls Us
When bad things happen it seems like everyone wants to point fingers at every possible reason under the sun. The recent events that unfolded in Las Vegas are a prime example. We all look for someone or something to blame because we just can’t wrap our minds around the idea that something that bad has actually happened. The heartbreaking truth is that there is EVIL in this world and there is nothing any of us can do to stop it. Then people want to blame God, when he didn’t have anything to do with it. Much to the contrary, his word tells us we are to love one another and do good to each other, that we are all our brother’s keeper. Why do people then want to blame him for these things? Let’s place the blame squarely where it belongs, with us and society as a whole. Pure evil is inside all of us, and we all get helped along by Satan to do his will. All too often people don’t even realize they are being led by him.
This world is quickly becoming a very dark place. God calls us to be the light to the world. In these dark days, please, as Christians, the world should see us shining like the sun! We should be an example of love, forgiveness, peace and healing to others. That’s what we’re called to be. Through Jesus we are to be transformed into that light and only through his Holy Spirit living in each of us do we have the power to overcome the evil with good and to do his will. To love others as he loved us, to show mercy and compassion and extend grace to each and every person. That’s the power that we should be living in and walking in daily.
So many times I hear or read on social media the stigma that Christianity has gotten over the years. Much evil has been done in the name of Jesus. We should be standing up and proving them wrong and calling out the people that call themselves a follower of Christ yet living like Satan. Jesus didn’t have a problem calling out the hypocrites of his day and neither should we. Paul tells us that if someone calls themselves a Christian yet lives in sin, we are to have NOTHING to do with them. Not even have a meal together. We are to go to them and confront them in private, and if they don’t repent and stop, then take two or three people and do it again. If they still do not repent then put them out of the Church. Those are harsh words and harsh dealings but that’s the way to deal with sin. Do not give it any room in your life and especially we are not to let it be in the Church. It only brings reproach and shame to the name of our Lord.
As always when a tragedy happens we can find comfort in the scriptures. This Psalm seems to be fitting today and should bring great comfort to us. Always remember, this is NOT our home. We are only journeying through to our final destination with the Lord in his Kingdom. That day is getting closer by the second.
Psalms 37
1) Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!
2) For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.
3) Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4) Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5) Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
6) He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
7) Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!
8) Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
9) For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.
10) In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
11) But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.
12) The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him,
13) but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming.
14) The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright;
15) their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
16) Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked.
17) For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.
18) The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever;
19) they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance.
20) But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.
21) The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives;
22) for those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off.
23) The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way;
24) though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.
25) I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.
26) He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.
27) Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever.
28) For the Lord loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
29) The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever.
30) The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.
31) The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.
32) The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death.
33) The Lord will not abandon him to his power or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.
34) Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.
35) I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree.
36) But he passed away, and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found.
37) Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.
38) But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.
39) The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
40) The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.