Contending With Evil For Good

"Today's Devotion" For January 30, 2006

Read: Mark 1:21-28; Ephesians 6:10-18

CONTENDING WITH EVIL FOR GOOD

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Eph. 6:12)

Wouldn't it be nice, even great, if there were no conflicts in the world? Nobody fighting with anyone verbally, mentally, emotionally, or physically? How wonderful would it be if we could wake up in the morning, look at the morning newspaper and read how nations and people had resolved differences peaceably and without rancor? What kind of place would the world be if there were no more terrorists - and wars on terror - no more crime in the streets, no more hunger, no more pain, and no more suffering.? Can you picture such a world in your mind? If you have such a picture, what do you get out of such a picture? How much, do you think, does your picture of such a world match that of your spouse, your children, your parents, your friends, your neighbors, or even the members of your church, business, clubs, and organizations? Does the government have the same picture in mind? How does such a picture of peace and tranquility compare to that of other nations? Where does God fit into your picture of a world without any sort of conflict?

If we really seriously consider the implications of the questions above we come to some important realizations. First, we realize that a world without conflict, pain, suffering, illness, and disease is also a world without death. Is that a possibility? Perhaps in the utopian dreams of science fiction writers, but not in reality. Such a world is what God intended for us at Creation. Humanity's Fall into Sin and disobedience to God effectively put a "kibosh" on that possibility. The world is no longer a "Garden of Eden" and no longer has any place that could be reasonably equated with it.

In the second place, because of how we human beings think, each of us probably has a different picture - whether slightly or a lot - as to what would constitute the ideal world and ideal lifestyle. Each of us has the intense desire to have life and the world reflect our personal views of what each should look like. As it stands right now, we spend our lives making compromises in our ideal visions so that we can live within a society and culture without constant conflict with everyone around us. Yet that compromise goes only so far because Sin seeks chaos, not harmony; dissension, not peace; hatred, not love; sorrow, not joy; fear, not confidence.

Since government is most frequently the result of the sum total of how its citizens think and feel about their culture and society, as well as their dreams for the future and willingness to be either independent or dependent, it's reasonably safe to acknowledge that how the government operates in one nation is going to be different from how it operates in another nation. Those differences bring conflict among nations, especially when there are common points of contact coming from different perspectives and understandings. The art of politics involves negotiation and compromise to maintain international harmony and peace. Wars, economic sanctions, trade wars, terrorism, and a host of other points of conflict reflect that sad reality that even negotiations, well-meaning as they might be, don't always accomplish what some would hope.

Then of course we can't forget the "religious plurality" of our nation and the world. Since the prevailing thought process of human beings, as a result of Sin in the world, is that there are myriad ways to "God" (some vigorously question His very existence) and that each human being has to discover the way for himself/herself. The reality of that belief is that there is a constant undercurrent in our culture and society, as well as the world, that people need to find a "religious tolerance" for other "belief systems." Unfortunately, the result of such "religious plurality" is not peace and tranquility, but religious intolerance and the desire to - in some cases such as Islam and some forms of Christianity - establish one's own religions tenents as the only way for people to believe and live.

So our world is full of conflict between people and among nations. Crime, wars, sickness, disease, hatred, economic hardship, pain, and suffering - this is the "short list" of the world's maladies - are all the results of these conflicts, which is full and certain proof that Sin exists in the world and there is an overwhelming evil "abroad in the land."

Thank God that in His wisdom He hasn't ignored that reality, even if we human beings try to shut it out. We can't escape the ravages of Sin in the world, no matter how utopian our dreams might be or how arrogantly we might believe we can solve all the diverse problems we face in the world. Jesus' healing of the demon possessed man clearly shows that not only does such evil exist in the world, but that God has done something about it. Satan knew this and did his best to try to stop God's work, even going so far as to try to tempt Jesus to sin and thus thwart God's plan for the salvation of the world from Sin and Death (cf. Matthew 4:1-11). Jesus not only drove the demon out of the man Mark tells us about, but out of many others as well. His life and ministry was dedicated to showing the reality of Sin in the world and that God, in His grace, mercy, and love in Jesus Christ, overcomes them for us so that we might live in peace with Him.

Peter reminds us that even though we have peace with God through faith in Jesus, the reality of life is that we will still and always be engaged in warfare - spiritual warfare - which manifests itself in the ravages Sin causes in the world. We can either be frightened and cowering because of this conflict, or confident and faithful in our living in spite of the challenges, trials, and tribulations of life.

Armed and protected by the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, the washing of Holy Baptism, and the Body and Blood of Christ in the Lord's Supper, we are equipped and prepared to contend with evil wherever we find it or face it for the good of others and the sharing of God's love and forgiveness to all. By God's grace, each of us has His peace in our hearts with sustains us through every conflict with evil and the world. We are not alone. We aren't set adrift. Nothing can take us away from God's love in Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:31ff.), in Whom is the world's peace. The power of Sin, Death, and Satan was broken when Jesus died and rose again.

There's no doubt that there's not going to be an ideal world this side of heaven. But thanks be to God that we have the power and strength to live boldly and faithfully in Him, confident that He has overcome the world, Sin, and evil so that we might have a life filled with peace and joy.

Prayer: Father, thank You for sending Jesus to overcome Sin, Death, and Satan for me. Thank You for giving me hope in Him as I live each day in Your forgiveness and peace. As I face the world and the constant conflicts and assaults by both spiritual and physical evil, let me do so with confidence and courage, strengthened by Your Word and Spirit. Help me to live my life as a living testimony of Your peace, love, and forgiveness for the whole world as I contend with evil for the good of others. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck


Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.