“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:21
In today’s world, all you have to do is turn on the news to catch wind of the battle raging between good and evil. With mass shootings, political corruptness, wars, etc. the battle between good and evil could not be clearer. At times, it may even seem like a victory for the Enemy and the kingdom of darkness. Yet, before we find ourselves grieving and wailing over the conditions in the world around us, let us take a moment to remember that Jesus entered our broken world of darkness and brought lifesaving light. His life signaled the end of the Enemy’s rule, and established the ultimate victory for the Kingdom of God. Yes, a battle still rages on around us between good and evil , but Jesus has won the war. Our job today is to remember, proclaim, and enforce the truth that good has overcome evil.
The verse above comes from a chapter in Romans that looks at love in action. As the chapter looks at how we ought to show love and act in love, it ends with a segment on how we ought to treat our enemies. Contrary to a worldly mindset of revenge or getting even, Paul writes of a concept deeply rooted in love – letting goodness overcome evil. It seems to go against everything natural to our human flesh, but that is exactly what Jesus practiced and taught when he made the ultimate sacrifice for us. In a world of brokenness, a world where it is easier to listen to the flesh than the Spirit, Jesus lived, died, and left an eternal impact by teaching his followers and Christians for millennia to come that good overcomes evil. As an innocent man without any blemish, he faced the cruelest death at the hands of sinners on the cross to show us the greatest example of love.
On days when you look around and feel like tragedy after tragedy is bearing down on you, and it seems impossible for God to be there, remember that the war is already won. Jesus has conquered the grave. Satan and the kingdom of evil and darkness has been overcome with the goodness of your Lord and Savior.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
In a world where it is easy to be overwhelmed by evil and darkness, help me to hold on to your truth: that goodness overcomes evil. Let me remember daily that while battles rage on around me, you O God have won the war and have put darkness to death.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
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