This document discusses the concepts of good and evil. It defines evil as the antithesis and opposite of good, and as the absence of good. Evil behaviors are described as those committed against other people or against God by disobeying his teachings. While some argue that God must be the creator of evil if he is perfectly good, the document asserts that evil came into being through Satan's rebellion and humans exercising free will wrongly. It concludes that through faith in Jesus Christ, believers can overcome evil and sin in this world and look forward to heaven where there will be no more death, mourning, crying or pain.

1. Good and Evil – 18th November2015
“Woe to those whocall evil goodandgoodevil,whoputdarknessforlightandlightfordarkness,who
put bitterforsweetandsweetforbitter”( Isaiah5:20).
By “evil,”we meanthe antithesisof good;anexact opposite.Evil isaforce workinginoppositiontoan
equal andcontradictoryforce of good.What we call evil isnothingmore thanthe absence of good.
What cannot be definedasGoodas taughtto us inthe Word of God fallsinthe categoryof evil and
dabblingwithitissin.Whenwe cross the thresholdof God’spresence inourlives,we getcaughttothe
evil one andstart to deviate fromthe continuityof God'sdesiredrelationshipwithus…
We all knowthat there isevil andsinandit isfoundall aroundus. Evil iswhat ismorallywrong,sinful,or
wicked.Evil isthe resultof badactionsstemmingfromevil thoughts.Biblically,evil isanythingthat
contradictsthe holynature of God whichwe can learnfromPsalm51:4 - “Againstyou,youonly,have I
sinnedanddone whatisevil inyoursight;so youare rightin yourverdictand justifiedwhenyoujudge”.
Evil behaviorcanbe thoughtof as fallingintotwocategories:evil committedagainstotherpeople
(murder,theft,adulteryetc) andevil committed againstGod(unbelief,idolatry,blasphemy).Bothare
evil...bothare notgoodand are notin keepingwithGodsteachingsforus.
The existence of evil hasbeenusedasa weaponbyopponentsof Christiantheismforsome time.The
so-called“problemof evil”hasbeenthe subjectof variousargumentsbyatheistsinanattemptto
demonstrate thata God whoisgood simplycannotexistbyimplyingthatGodmustbe the creator of
evil.God’sholycharacterare beenquestionedbythem.AsChristianswe know that Goodnesshas
existedasanattribute of God fromall eternity.While Godisperfectlyholyandjust,He isalsoperfectly
good.Justas God hasalwaysexisted,sotoohasgoodnessasit isa facet of God’s holycharacter.The
same cannot be saidfor evil. Evil came intobeingwiththe rebellionof Satananditsubsequently
enteredthe physical realmwiththe fallof Adam.ThereforeEvil isnota directcreationof God; rather,
evil isthe resultof personsexercisingtheirGodgivenfreedomwronglyandagainstGod’s
commands...forustolive arighteouslife.
We knowthatGood and Evil are a “reality”formostof us eachand everyday.But as forChristianswho
have acceptedJesusChristasour savior,we have Hispromise thatHe will neverleaveuswhenwe live a
life inkeepingtoHiswill.Whenwe learntolive thatwayevil andsinare pushedfurtherawayfromour
hearts.We can learninHebrews13 about keepingawayfromevil.“Keepyourlivesfree fromthe love of
moneyandbe contentwithwhatyouhave,because Godhas said,“Neverwill Ileave you;neverwillI
forsake you”(Hebrews13:5).Thisis a great Hope evenforthose yetto findJesus,because God’s
promise isthatHe is seekingtosave those whoare lost.Theyare termedlostdue to the evil andsin
dwellingwithinthem.Jesuscame toearthtobring the lostsheepbackto God’sfold:The lostonlyneed
to consciouslyseekJesusChristandthroughfaithacceptHimas our God and saviour.“Forthe Sonof
Man came to seekandto save the lost” (Luke 19:10).

2. Despite the horrible effectsof evil onourworld,the Christianbelievercantake comfortin the wordsof
the Lord JesusChristrecordedforus inthe Gospel of John: “I have toldyouthese things,sothat inme
youmay have peace.Inthisworldyou will have trouble.Buttake heart!I have overcome the world.””
(John16:33). He hasovercome the worldandthroughour belief inHimwe alsocanlearnto overcome
evil andsinthat plagueshumanity.FurthermoreChristianslookforwardwithgreat anticipationtoour
home inheavenwhere the ultimateevil,death,willfinallybe destroyedalongwiththe “mourning,
cryingand pain”as we can learninRevelation21:“He will wipe everytearfromtheireyes.There will be
no more death’or mourningor crying or pain,forthe oldorder of thingshas passedaway”(Revelation
21:4).
“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).