CHRISTIAN take hope in the evil that surrounds

Article below was provided by OMEGA LETTER
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"There is a growing sense of all-pervasive evil overspreading the planet like a cloud. One can almost taste it in the air. It corrupts everything around us; entertainment, politics, the social structure, in the sense evil being the new good.

That which was heretofore unthinkable is now routine; as it becomes routine, it assumes a degree of normalcy. I recall listening to a news anchor's description of the destruction of Jennifer Hudson's family.

I didn't know who Jennifer Hudson was, but because she won an Oscar for something, when her mother, brother and nephew were brutally murdered, it was newsworthy.

The crime itself is horrific beyond belief. The woman's mother and brother were gunned down, according to police, by her own brother-in-law.

The suspect is the stepfather of seven year old Julian King. The little boy was taken from the murder scene by his step-father. Later, his little body was found, riddled with bullets and one of his hands hacked off! Seven years old!

If that isn't evil personified, it is difficult to imagine what could be worse. The news anchor read the story from the teleprompter as if he were describing a automobile accident. Nothing is shocking, anymore.

The Apostle Paul refers to evil as a 'mystery', writing that;

"the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only He who now letteth will let, until He be taken out of the way." (2nd Thessalonians 2:7)

"Mystery" is a word used 22 times in the New Testament, not at all in the OT, and refers exclusively to a progressive revelation from God not previously known to the Church.

"And He said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables," Jesus told His disciples in Mark 4:11.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans;

"Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began." (Romans 16:25)

"But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory." (1st Corinthians 2:7)

"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed," (1st Corinthians 15:51)

One would think little about evil would be a mystery to mankind; evil reared its ugly head in the Garden of Eden. Mankind is no stranger to evil. Evil is his constant companion. But there is little about evil, when you get right down to it, that isn't a mystery.

For one thing, evil is unique to mankind. A cat can't commit evil. A dog is incapable of an evil intent. A forest fire that consumes thousands of living trees and the wildlife living therein is a tragedy, but it is only evil if it were deliberately set.

An earthquake that spawns a tsunami that claimed hundreds of thousands in Asia was a catastrophic event of immense tragedy; the genocide in Darfur the perpetuation of a great evil.

They are different. Evil requires an intent, while at the same time, it doesn't actually exist. (See why Paul called it a mystery?)

Evil is the absence of good, therefore, it cannot exist apart from good. Which came first? Good or evil? How does one measure evil, except by the absence of good? Good, on the other hand, is not the absence of evil.

(Hitler was good to his dog, Blondie. Until he had her poisoned)

Evil is like cold. It cannot exist independently. Cold is the measure of the absence of heat. Heat can exist without cold. Cold could not exist without heat. Or like darkness. Darkness is the absence of light. Light could exist without darkness. Darkness could not exist without light.

Evil could not exist without good. Evil is the measure of the absence of good. The murderer of Jennifer Hudson's family was exceedingly evil, but had it been quick and painless, one could argue there was some measure of good to be found.

Strip away even that measure of good, and what is left is the incredibly evil manner of death that overtook seven-year-old Julian King.

Assessment:

If man wrote the Bible, it would have a happy ending. If human beings authored Scripture, the Gospel message would go something like this.

"In the beginning man was evil, but over the course of the ages, through effort and education, mankind gradually began to shed his self-destructive tendencies and as civilization developed, man grew less warlike, less murderous, less evil, and overall, the species began to improve."

That's the narrative, for example, behind the wildly successful "Star Trek" franchises. That given sufficient time, man will shed his evil nature.

It is a seductive message -- and one that seems logical. Man is continually trying to improve himself, is he not?

As we observed earlier, one of the bedrock principles of progressive liberalism is change for the sake of change itself. We can do better, say the liberals.

But since the Bible was Divinely Inspired, the Scriptures say exactly the opposite. 2nd Timothy 3:1 says that in the last days, "perilous times shall come."

We've discussed the similarities between the progressive liberal world view and the characteristics of the society Paul warned would bring perilous times until you can probably quote 2nd Timothy 3:2-5 from memory verbatim.

The world view that the polls say is shared by half the country is a letter-perfect fit to Paul's social prophecy. Paul describes a world view in which man sees himself as the supreme authority.

In Paul's society, the family unit has broken down, the church is an object of ridicule, children are disposable, rules, like promises, are made to be broken, self-control is non-existent, and those who dare to point out the deterioration of society from a spiritual perspective can expect fierce opposition.

Paul put it like this: "men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. . ."

While man, in his arrogance, might prophesy the improvement of the human race, (as do the tenets of most existing non-Biblical religious systems) the Scriptures were inspired by God, Who knows better.

Man would like to believe that his function is self improvement, and it seems logical, then, that man would embrace whatever would aid him in that goal.

Instead, Paul promises the exact opposite, that, "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution," while promising that "evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived."

What lesson can we take away from the escalating tragedy that is the society of the last days? We can heed the instructions given us.

"But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of Whom thou hast learned them. " (3:14)

The fact that evil men and seducers continue to wax worse and worse, in spite of what man might expect, is evidence that man didn't write the Bible.

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (2nd Timothy 3:16-17)

That is our assurance that, no matter how scary things get, God remains in charge. He knows what He is doing. He hasn't forgotten His children. He hears our prayers.

But He has a Plan of His Own. All He asks of us is to trust Him while it unfolds before our eyes.

"But let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because Thou defendest them: let them also that love Thy Name be joyful in Thee. For Thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt Thou compass him as with a shield." (Psalms 5:11-12)

Maranatha!