Good And Evil

“If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?” ― Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago 1918-1956

The evil we saw committed at Sandy Hook Elementary yesterday, I have heard described as incomprehensible.   Unfortunately it isn’t.

People are are bent to do evil.   Oh,  to differing degrees for sure, but it’s true!   We all do things that tear others down in certain ways.

I’m a School Resource Officer, State Trooper and I carry those titles precisely because evil dwells in all of us!

My wife always tells me, “Never say that you’ll never do something.”  For, it’s those convictions our mortal enemy, Satan, will try to tumble!  He wants to reduce our foundation to rubble.  Instead say, “by God’s grace I’ll never …….”

There’s a battle between good and evil,  that so many of us refuse to acknowledge.  God being the super power and Satan the terrorist!

Who doesn’t think bullying at a child’s level can and does inflict deep life long wounds?  Who believes words spoken in anger to a loved one doesn’t do eternal self esteem damage?

Look at toddlers playing together, who taught them to be selfish?   No one, that is the very nature of evil playing out before our own eyes!   Why do we deny what it is, because they’re precious innocent children?

ORIGINAL SIN is a Christian belief that many struggle to understand, perhaps because it goes against our created potential.   We were created to be good!   Unfortunately, we also were allowed to choose our own way.  Adam and Eve chose selfishly , to Hell with the rules,  pun intended.

I contend the selfishness displayed in their choice,  we see repeated in the unlearned hording of toys played before us by our precocious little munchkins!   They have to be taught to share!

Yesterday’s events take this to an extreme, no doubt, but how many people have we helped slowly kill with our inconsiderate actions throughout our lives?

Do we ever contemplate that?

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men should do nothing.”~ Edmund Burke

We often look at Burke’s quote as a call to rise up to “the potential of our created good”, and on our human level I believe we should! However, truly there has only ever been one good man , that being Christ Jesus!! The good news today following the tragedy of yesterday is that the “good man” did what was necessary for good to defeat evil!

21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

~Romans 7:21-25

That happens to be my favorite scripture. I think it keeps me grounded, reminds me of my true nature, and places my whole trust in Jesus Christ. Because I can not trust myself!

Yesterday’s slaughter of innocents is truly heart wrenching. I believe God has special grace for children unaware of their bent. I pray they are with God.

Thought to ponder as you journey today : Do you recognize that evil is apart of you, no matter how well you match up against others? Do you know the One Good Man? Get to know Him today!