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There’s a cosmic battle going on between good and evil, and sometimes it
seems like evil is winning. In spite of all the power that God claims
to have, it often seems like bad things are proliferating faster than
good.
The Bible teaches that Jesus triumphed over Satan by rising from the
dead on the third day. However, the increase in abuse, gangs, drugs,
famines hate, crime, corruption, local wars, and senseless killings
sometimes causes us to wonder if Satan might actually be winning the
battle instead.
As Christians, we are instructed to keep a positive attitude regardless
of how things appear at the moment. The outcome of the battle between
good and evil is sure – Satan will be completely defeated by God.
The position of Satan today is similar to that of a good superpower
fighting a war against an evil dictator of a weak, third class nation.
The superpower could end the war by dropping an atomic bomb on the
dictator, but to do so would kill thousands of persons. So instead of
ending the war with a bomb, the more powerful nation sends in an army of
foot soldiers. The fighting is intense. The dictator even wins some of
the battles. But the outcome is sure. Eventually the dictator will be
destroyed.
The object of the more powerful nation is not to prolong the life of the
dictator, but to save the lives of the citizens of his country.
One reason God does not just wipe out evil from the world is that to do
so he would also have to destroy all of us. Even those persons who have
given their lives to God still have the capacity to do evil. The only
sure method of getting rid of evil once and for all is to eradicate the
human race.
But God does not want to destroy anyone. St. Peter writes concerning
God’s promise to triumph over evil, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his
promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not
wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter
3:9)
Instead of blaming God for being slow to act against evil, we ought to
be giving him thanks for his patience with us. The longer he waits, the
more opportunity we have to make our peace with him.
However, he will not always wait. Someday he will say, “enough is
enough.” Then he will command the angels, who will blow the trumpets
and come to take God’s children home.
In that day, “the heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will
be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid
bare.” (2 Peter 3:10)
When that day comes, we have only one hope. Our own goodness will not
be enough to stand against the fire of God. Our only hope for the
future is to side with Jesus Christ now in the present.
As Christians, we should not hang our heads in defeat when it seems like
evil is prevailing over good. The score that matters is not the one at
half time, but the one at the end of the game. When the final trumpet
sounds, those on God’s team will be victorious forever.
Paul Jetter, Upper Valley Community Church |
