Seek Good, Not Evil

 

    With the current affairs of the world, including the global pandemic and the recent breach of the US Capital, it appears that evil is winning the day. The book of Amos, notes the following, "Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the LORD God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph." (Amos 5:14-15).

    When I watch the news, and even some advertising, I wonder if we have lost sight of the difference between good and evil. Some things that the Bible specifically calls a sin, thus evil, is now being called good by some of society. In Isaiah 5:20, this issue is addressed, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter." 

    I don't want to appear as if I am standing in judgement of the deeds of others, since my life was a total mess before becoming a born-again Christian (and even as a follower of Christ Jesus, I am not perfect, just perfectly saved). Ephesians 5:8-13 says it best, regarding how to deal with good and evil in the world:

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible--and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 

    Be the light! Darkness is falling all around us, we must make a stand for the light, for goodness, for God. Jesus tells us the following in Matthew 5:14-16, "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Seek the light, the good, not the darkness, the evil, for this is what glorifies God. Amen.     

Matthew 12:35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.