“Good people know about both good and evil.  Bad people do not know about either.” – C.S. Lewis

“Evil only has the power that we give it.” – Ray Bradbury

“The battleline between good and evil runs through the heart of every man.” – Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” – Isaiah 5:20 NIV

The pace of life scurries along so quickly that often we give little thought to important things – things that can change the course of it in dramatic ways.  The presence and nature of evil is a great example of this.

When we fail to embrace and understand the “creeping incrementalism” of evil, we start to become aloof and indifferent to how it surfaces and grows.  Think about the recent shootings in Minneapolis. To see tragic events like this unfold today is becoming common place.  Years ago, such an event would have been unheard of, but today shootings like this are becoming an everyday occurrence.  Slowly but surely, we take another step closer to accepting this kind of evil as a normal part of society.  When you look back, you begin to realize how deeper and more penetrating evil has taken root in our culture.

Mass shootings are certainly a drastic example, but evil generally starts out small, so it becomes somewhat undetected by us.

We don’t realize how the small talk and physical attraction of a coworker can eventually turn into an affair that ruins marriages and lives.  It seems innocent at first, yet incrementally it moves and grows into something larger over time – creeping along so slowly we don’t detect how quickly it’s advancing.

The little white lies turn eventually into larger forms of deception, and the occasional bad habit turns into addiction.  Evil quietly edges its way in, not with the intention of causing minor damage to our lives but destroying us beyond remedy down the road.

When we discount its presence and impact on our lives, we give it a foothold.  So how should we view it, deal with it, or better yet, combat it?

Here are some things to consider:

Realize It’s Coming For You

“Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows..” – John 16:33 NLT

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. – 1 Peter 5:8 NIV

Evil isn’t something we stumble upon accidentally.  It is coming for each of us in a very active, determined way.  In the verse above, Jesus reminds us that we are not immune to it, and Peter reminds us that it pursues us like prey – like a hunting, hungry lion.

We often walk around the jungles of life aloof to the fact that the lion of evil is stalking us!  Part of fighting evil is seeing it in the light of its nature – a force actively seeking to kill and destroy us.  It’s coming for us, and acknowledging this fact prepares us for its entrance into our lives in the varying forms it takes.

Developing an Awareness to the Presence of Evil

“To fight evil, you have to understand the dark.” – Nalini Singh

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” – Ephesians 5: 15-17 NKJV

The Bible verse mentioned earlier reminds us to be “alert and of sober mind” – being aware of how evil enters into our minds and hearts.  It begins in subtle ways, by what we listen to, by what we watch, and by the activities we choose to engage in.  It can infiltrate our thoughts – creating more fear and doubt versus faith in our sovereign God.

I love how the Ephesians verse implores us to walk “circumspectly” – to be watchful, guarded, and thoughtful in all we think, do or say.  Just an awareness of evil and how it works helps us to keep it in check.

“All have turned away from God; they have all gone wrong; no one does what is right, not even one.”  – Romans 3:12 GNT

“We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.” – Isaiah 64:6 NLT

Part of living circumspectly is to realize that humanity is inherently evil – and that includes ALL OF US!  Like the Bible verse states above, “no one does what is right, not even one.”

Think about the current circumstances that surround your life right now.  Are you courageous enough to analyze your motives and actions within each of them – eliminating anything dishonest or unethical?

Realize How to Combat and Overcome it

“Do not be overcome and conquered by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  – Romans 12:21 Amplified Bible

“Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.”  – John 3:20 BSB

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” – Romans 12:2 NLT

Evil is overcome by focusing on and doing good – doing what is right according to God’s commands and principles.  As the Scripture verse states above, we must allow God to transform our way of thinking – not conforming to the world and its ways. 

So many worldly principles are counter to spiritual principles.  The world says take as much as possible and God tells us to give as much as possible.  The world tells us to get revenge for being wronged and God tells us to forgive others and to love our enemies.  We need to realize how the darkness of this world opposes the Light of goodness we need in order to combat evil.

Just as evil is a powerful, active force out to destroy us, doing good is a powerful force all its own.  In fact, it has the power to overcome and conquer it!  Think about how words of encouragement or acts of forgiveness can overcome the darkness within our relationships or how acts of service and kindness can overpower any form of evil that has penetrated the lives of others.

Realize its Eventual Demise

“And the devil who had deceived them was hurled into the lake of fire and burning brimstone (sulfur), where the beast (Antichrist) and false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night, forever and ever.” – Revelation 20:10 Amplified Bible

In the Bible verse from the 16^th chapter of John I mentioned earlier, Jesus reminds us that we are all subject to the trials and sorrows of this world, but I love what He says next.

“But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 KJV

Evil will end forever!  God promises us this victory through Jesus Christ!  When we get down about the evil we see around us, we can take heart that the forces of goodness will prevail!

In the meantime, see evil as an active force with intent to destroy – like a lion stalking its prey!  It enters our lives slowly – taking small, unnoticeable steps until it grows too large to contain.  Just this simply awareness helps us keep it in check.  Live your life sober-minded and circumspectly – daily analyzing your motives and actions to keep evil at bay.  Bring it out of the darkness and into the Light 😊

Fight it with goodness – employing spiritual principles to your life that have the power to overcome it – principles that are often counter to this world and its ways.

May God help us to follow His good and perfect will for our lives!