LET’S TALK ABOUT… WHAT IS EVIL?

 
WHAT IS EVIL?
Have you ever thought about this question… WHAT IS EVIL? Wow, weighty question! And one that we need to answer in our lives. Do you know and can you define what evil is.
True evil… not accidents or mistakes… but moral evil.  
 This is not necessarily a feel-good topic but today I want to talk about …
 WHAT IS EVIL?
  

Oh boy, did I pick a topic that is thick with theology and much debated and explained by scholars who talk and think way above my head!

 This is not the definitive word on evil …. or even a thorough definition… and it will not even begin to scratch the surface of this topic… but it is an easy to understand and a good way to think about evil.
 

Evil is the absence of God.

 
When we push God out of our lives… out of our country… He WILL leave. He will never force himself or His presence on anyone. 
 And when God leaves, He leaves a great big V-O-I-D. It is in that void that evil flourishes, no… abounds! 
 Jesus, in the Sermon On The Mount said… 
 
“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, to show that you are the children of your Father in heaven,  for He makes the sun shine on the wicked and the good, and makes the rain fall on the upright and the evildoers.”
 
 I want to highlight one part of this scripture that is not the main meaning, but will give us insight into good and evil.
 Jesus says that God “makes the sun shine on the wicked and the good, and makes the rain fall on the upright and the evildoers”. What Jesus is saying, and the Jews of the day would understand this, is God’s grace and goodness is on all of His creation… both good and evil. “Rain” in the bible can be a symbol of blessing.  In ancient times God would withhold the rains when His people were turning away from Him and acting evil. It was a sign to the people… a way of God saying, “You better watch and turn back to Me”.
 
I’m not saying that droughts today are God’s way of warning us about evil in our lives and nations. Here is what I am saying… God’s grace and mercy to everyone is a way of showing who He is and His love for all of us! And because of His great blessings, love and mercy… this should make all people want to turn to Him.
 
But there are people that don’t accept, acknowledge or believe in God or His great love and benevolence to all of us. They choose to turn their backs on Him… and go their own way. And left to our own devices we can begin a very dark spiral into evil… a pit without the presence of God!
 
When we take this deadly path, evil abounds. And the saddest thing is the consequences of evil… the fallout… that ripples out onto those around the wicked. Evil is not discriminating, it effects everyone… the evil, the good, the innocent!  For example, we can easily see the horrific fallout of abuse on the lives of an abuser’s family. Innocents most often suffer! We have seen the heartbreaking fallout of evil in the recent violence in our own country and in the horrific terroristic activity around the world.
 
For me, the tragic occurrences in our country today are sure signs of a nation in deep trouble… in denial of God. You may not agree, and that is your right, but looking at these tragedies in today’s world that are perpetrated by evil people and the heart wrenching loss of life and innocence is a sure sign to me!
 
 Remember … evil is the absence of God.
 
Then how do we as individuals and as a nation curb evil. The answer is easy… TURN BACK TO GOD!
Believe in the saving grace of Jesus!  The answer may be easy… 
 
The obedience to that biblical truth may not be!
 
We, who are authentic Christians, should be mourning over the loss of those who have chosen the darkness of the pit by rejecting God. But we should also find comfort in the truth that no one … NO ONE… is beyond salvation. 
 
We all have a choice, God gave the same choice to the Jews many centuries ago as they were just about to head into the promised land of Israel… the land they were to live in…
 
 “I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the cures. So choose life in order that you may live, and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him, for this is your life and length of days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your father, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them”. Deut. 30: 19
 
We have a choice… like a multiple choice test… and God even gives us the correct answer…
 Here’s your test…
 What will you chose?
a. life and blessings
b. death and curses
c. chose life… 
 
What have you chosen?
 Evil is a sure sign of failing the test! But here is the great news… God let’s us retake the test. He is ready… are you?

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48 Comments

  1. Thank you so much for your message today. I really enjoyed and needed it. I appreciate your hard work !

  2. Rebecca Francis says:

    Food for the soul.

  3. Nan, Odessa, DE says:

    This message enforces what I know and gives hope to those who have turned away or lost hope that they can re-test.
    GOD is free, and there for all of us!
    What kindness will you show to another today?

  4. Thanks so much… this really gave me pause to think about evil in a different light.

  5. Thank you so much for this wake-up call and for the encouragement!

    God bless you and your family! 🙂

  6. Daryl jackson says:

    I couldn’t agree more! I had no idea when I signed up to follow you were were sisters in Christ. What an unexpected blessing. We kick him out of our schools and are surprised when there are shootings. He is a gentleman. If we say go He goes. I pray for my city and country daily. Our prayer have great power. Many will get to heaven and realize we should have prayed more!
    Thank you for your great words and thoughts this Sunday morning!

  7. Pam Griner says:

    I am at home, recovering from knee surgery and not released to drive yet. My husband had to travel today for his job with the US Army and so I couldn’t attend church. Your post takes the place of church for me today and it was really excellent. Thank you for this fine example of your faith.

    1. Nancy Marino says:

      Many churches have a bus or other transportation thru volunteers who will come pick you up and take you home again Pam. One of the blessings of a good church family. I hope you are feeling better.

      Yvonne, I have followed you for years, but lost you when my old computer crashed. This was beautifully said in the way of a modern day female prophet. Evil can show a good face and even as Christians it is sometimes difficult to see the truth. All the more reason to rely on our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to guide us each moment of every day. Nice to have another sister in Christ.

  8. I read your blog but have never commented before. The messages you send are spot on and I truly admire the fact that you are not afraid to confront these topics that unfortunately in today’s world are quite controversial. God Bless you for speaking the truth. Best wishes on this lovely Sunday, Silvana – experiencetheheart.blogspot.com

  9. Thank-you we get so caught up in mundane everyday things . We often neglect our spiritual life. Which in this day is paramount to our happiness.

  10. Thank you so much for your continued grace with sharing your Sunday Scriptures. My Gods abundant rains continue pour over you!

  11. I really liked your definition of evil as the absence of God – it progresses for unbelievers to eternity separated from God. I agree our country is increasingly reaping the harvest of evil due to the desire to have God out of our lives (by those who don’t believe). Excellent post! Blessings, Janet

  12. Darlene Odom says:

    A wonderful “mini-sermon” reminder. We need to band together and pray more to show that God is NOT absent in our heart and lives. We must stand to keep God in America so that our children will grow up in a world of faith of hope.

  13. Excellent! “Evil is the absence of God.” It is hard for “good people”, who are without God, to understand this. Thank you for this simple yet VERY CLEAR message. Love your Sunday writings…

  14. Quite a weighty topic that would be better discussed over a morning coffee.

  15. Thank you for this teaching. Godlessness has been a topic on my mind and several articles I have read in the last week. Godlessness has given us the wickedness we see today in our country. Praying for mercy and forgiveness for our country.

  16. I very much agree with all you have said, and love the clear concise definition of evil, Blessings to you and your family, and thank you for all you share with us ladies, I want to be like you if I ever grow up….lol

  17. Great topic. . Amen.
    Have a great day.

  18. Thanks, Yvonne, for speaking so plainly. This certainly makes me re-evaluate how and what I say when I pray. Prayer has POWER and is a tool given to us that brings us right into God’s presence where He HEARS us. We need to heed II Chronicles 7:14 in our praying. Bless you as you take the time to minister to each reader…I know you bless me.

  19. Very insightful. Amen.

  20. It always amazes me how tireless God is in the many resources He will use to draw in his kids. Thank you for allowing Him to use your voice thru your blog to speak truth, in a world so confusing to so many.

  21. D Rutland says:

    A wise man said “all it takes for evil to abound is for a good man to do nothing”. If you will take time to read Gods word and pray for understanding,he will convict your soul of your need for him and show you great and mighty things that you know not. Share what God means to you with your family and friends. God Bless!

  22. Amen! Amen! Amen! Wonderful truth! We only overcome evil with Good and Good only comes from GOD! Have a great day!

  23. Melody Ivy says:

    Thank you. It’s a calming and peaceful knowing of God’s word and plan for us all.

  24. Thank you for telling it like it is. We certainly have turned our backs on God. We who are Christians need to pray for our country. Thanks for your blog today.

  25. AMEN!!!! Such a well explained topic. Thank you for these Sunday blogs.. If we could only see that GOD haves to be our life for the good. There is only GOD and Satan in this world, nothing else. I pray we choose to live for GOD…..Have a great day Sister in Christ.

  26. Thank you, Yvonne! Your Sunday teachings are such a blessing to me!!!

  27. Thank you for your continued insights of God’s Word and blessings. You are blessed among women. I really like the way you phrased Evil…..the absence of God. Have a wonderful day, for you have made mine that way!

  28. Yvonne so well spoken and how true, I do have hope that we the people that God created will turn back to him Praise and Glorify his name it’s so needed at this time with all the evil in this world. Thank You for your knowledge of the Bible to explain so we can understand God’s words.

  29. As much as I enjoy your regular blog, I have to say that I really anticipate your Sunday writings. Thank you for having the courage to share your Christian lifestyle with your readers. I appreciate the time and thoughtfulness you put in to these blogs, and hope you will continue. I, personally, have found everything just goes better with God in my life! Appreciate you.

  30. Naomi Frost says:

    Let’s also remember, 1 John 3:4, Evil/Sin is transgression of His Law…..the 10 C0mmandments. Jesus tells us in John 14:15, “If you love me keep my Commandments”. It’s His law that gives us light to what is sin, violation of his laws will lead to evil doing.

    At present, the evil in the world is in accord with the Scriptures, and an essential ingredient in God’s plan comes from evil. This is the only good that comes from evil. It is the only way to the highest blessing for ourselves and for the human race as well as for all creation. Evil is necessary as a background for the display of God’s grandest glories because stars only show brightly on a backdrop of darkness. Our understanding of that necessity will prepare us to endure with thankful hearts all our present trials and tragedies that come our way. Evil in a strange way points us to God himself. For without the knowledge of evil/sin we would have a lesser understanding of the love, goodness and holiness of God. God’s grace and mercy will one day soon crush evil and sin out of existence. This will happen when we understand there is no good out side of Him. God permits evil for a time, it servers a purpose that is hard for us to totally perceive. To say evil does not serve a purpose, is saying God has not the power to end it.

    Naomi

    The only way mankind can realize what God is to them is by an actual experience of what it means to be without Him.

  31. I have just recently discovered your blog and completely appreciate your topic today. Too many believe evil doesn’t exist and/or there is no hell. The Scriptures tell us differently. We need to turn to God and also one of His greatest gifts …. prayer.

  32. LYNDA SCHRAM says:

    Yvonne, you have been such a comfort to me since I found your site. First I loved your traditional taste with a country flare, then I discovered you were a Christian. I finished homeschooling my 4 daughters and 1 son (who I had at 45) and at 60 am finally being able to grab some time to hold a thought in my head for longer that a split second. (snicker) I buried my 59 year old brother who passed away from ALS, my 95 year old southern gentleman father and my 86 year old mom all one year apart in the last 3 years. I am the last of the line and am so grateful the Lord gave me the strength to “take care of my family” in their last days. Beyond your decorating tips I sense you desire to pass the Lord’s peace and assurances on to your reading family. You let the “light” in !
    -Lynda from Seattle

    1. God bless you Lynda! I am so sorry for your losses. May the Lord comfort you! xo

  33. Thank you for today’s message. I have started praying daily for our country for I fear we as a nation are turning away from God. I pray that we will elect leaders that love God and want to do His will.

  34. Fran Baker says:

    Thank you for sharing the truth of the Gospel each week!!

  35. Monica mendoza says:

    Thank you so much for this conversation! Although the sun is just beginning to ” dim out for the day” my soul just “lit up” with joy! ?

  36. I love your messages! Thank you for being a light in this dark world!!
    Blessings~

  37. I totally agree with you Yvonne!! I just found your blog a few weeks ago and subscribed. How refreshing it is to see a blogger of today doing all that God would expect from them, and using their own wonderful blog to do many things,but to also not be afraid to say and stand for His Word.!!!What a blessing you are being to people whom read or subscribe to your blog.Thank you so much for doing that!! I am enjoying your blog so much, and love the fact that I have even more reading and contemplating of His Word on Sundays,and SO love the fact that there are women like you, who have a “study group” where all of us can get together on the Sabbath,no matter where or when we may do it.You never know if your blogs’ “Sunday Scriptures” may be someone out there’s saving grace!
    If I may; if there are any readers out there who would like a free study course of the Word, a wonderful tool for study is the “World Bible School.org”. It is in laymens terms,and reads in a way that anyone can understand it.Even for people who are already wise in spiritual things, it is still great refresher courses.
    Thanks again for all you do to further His Kingdom!

  38. evil is the absence of God. so true, thanks for taking the time to remind us. And our United States need to understand this and bring back God to our country!!!!!

  39. D'Arylan Ball says:

    Amen. Keep shinning your light! Darkness can never extinguish the light.
    Thank you!!!

  40. Thank you so much for including Scripture and thought provoking messages in your blog. Our world SO needs this! Thank you for the lives you touch. May we all pray daily that our country turns back to God before it is too late. This world is evil and we all need God and His Word to guide us every day.

  41. I look forward to your blog everyday but the ones that speak to us about God are my favorite.
    Thank you for taking the time to explain scriptures in a way that really speaks to the hearts of
    those that are always yearning to learn more about our faith.

  42. Hattie Morris says:

    Thank you My Sister in Christ!! I totally agree.

  43. Deuteronomy 30:19…. A beautiful verse to commit to memory! HE is ever the gentleman, never forcing himself on us but constantly drawing us to himself. I too was drawn to the beauty of your website only to be blessed by such pearls of wisdom. Thank you for using this platform to bring glory to the RISEN SAVIOR!

  44. Wonderful words and so true.

    Many blessings.

  45. Such a nice message. Thank you for the home ideas and your wonderful post. I really like your blog sight. Again Thank you

    1. Peggy, you are welcome… but praise God! I am blessed to be a teacher.