Psalm 34:14. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
So my people, all the Canada Day partying is over now, and on this bright and sunshiny summer Tuesday, it’s time for us to get back to work, to seriously try and solve our many problems without resorting to violence, because in the end, violence never proves anything, it only breeds more violence. That’s why the Bible, the Law of God, tells us so much about refraining from evil. And just in case you don’t believe me, let’s look at some of those verses that repudiate evil, that warns the believer about accepting or indulging in the works of the devil.
First up are these explicit warnings from Bruh Paul to the Roman church. ‘Let LOVE be without dissimulation (hypocrisy). Abhor that which is evil; cleave (cling) to that which is good… Recompense to (repay) no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men (have regard for good things)…. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord… Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.’ (Rom. 12: 1, 17, 19, 21)
Yes friends, all of that on the repudiation of evil in just one chapter. But unfortunately those warnings don’t seem to have any effect on today’s modern world, since it’s filled with evil right up to the gills, with evil currently being the predominant force on the planet, while good runs a distant second. But that should not be so my faithful brethren, as our mandate from our Lord and Saviour is to fill the earth with goodness, joy, and LOVE! Remember these words He spoke to the disciples, and consequently to us?
‘These things I have spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye LOVE one another, as I have LOVED you…These things I command you, that ye LOVE one another.’ (John 15:12-13, 17) Yuh see friends, we should be all about LOVE and joy while we zealously pursue Christ’s command in the Great Commission. ‘Go ye therefore and teach (make disciples) of all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things what soever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’ (Matt. 28:19-20)
Now that’s supposed to be our job, but obviously, for whatever reason(s), we are falling down on it, otherwise the word would not be so filled with the evil and negative influences of Satan. What don’t we understand about the necessity for spreading God’s Word and staying away from evil eh? Now hear this further warning from Bruh David in Ps. 34.
‘What man is he that desireth life, and LOVETH many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile (deceit). Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off (destroy) the remembrance of them from the earth.’ (Ps. 34:12-16)
Oh my brethren, even if we’re the most simple minded of people, those words are very easy for us to understand. Stay away from evil because the Lord doesn’t like it and He will eventually destroy all that’s evil on His planet! But no, many of us seem to rejoice in and regale the works of evil. So much so that even in Christ’s own church, evil is very rampant. The divisions, the dissensions, the selfish cliques and petty differences keep us apart, so that evil can easily infiltrate the church and drive us even further away from God and each other.
And if the father, Bruh David was wise, the Son, Cousin Sol, was even wiser. (smile) Listen, as he tells us about the abominations, that’s the evil things that the Lord hates. ‘These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him. A proud look (haughty eyes), a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations (devises wicked plans), feet that be swift in running to mischief (evil), A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.’ (Prov. 6:16-19)
And sadly, all those things that Cousin Sol listed as abominations unto our God are front and centre in today’s world. And the rampant rise and spread of evil in our world is largely due to Christ supposed believers sitting much too idly on their fat fannies, enjoying the pleasures of the world, instead of doing the job they were commissioned to do. Our world would never be in such a dire state of chaos and disaster, if we were living up to Christ’s description of us: ‘Ye are the salt of the earth… Ye are the light of the world… Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt. 5:13, 14, 16)
Yes friends, unfortunately our salt has lost its flavour, and our lights have become darkened, lost their lustre. And I believe we need a timely reminder of what happened way back when, when the world was in a state very much like ours. The Bible tells us: ‘And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart (his intents or thoughts) was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord (He was sorry, regretted ) that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart (His heart was deeply troubled).
And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me (I am sorry, regret) that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.’ (Gen 6:5-8) And we’re infinitely lucky that Noah found favour with God back then, or there would be no life on earth now, allowing us to make the same dreadful mistakes, and even worse ones, with all of our modern knowledge and technology.
Oh friends, if the Lord found the world wicked and evil enough to destroy it back then, what do you believe He’s thinking about ours now eh? For our world is a million times more evil and wicked than Noah’s. And let’s remember, that the Lord never promised to not destroy the world again, just not by water. So, if we continue with our evil ways, anything is possible. However, from the way the worldly strife is heating up, and the talk of using nuclear weapons to settle our differences, the Lord won’t have to raise a finger, for we will do the deed ourselves.
Nonetheless, for those who are trying our best to serve the Lord, let’s go home now declaring (yesss!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know of whom we belong to, lock, stock and barrel. As one sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
And having said that, we now need to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Jesus with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…the wise fear the LORD…and shun evil…but a fool is hotheaded…and yet feels secure. (Prov. 14:6)
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