Choose life ∙
Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life so that you and your descendants might live! – Deuteronomy 30:19
Isaiah 5:20-25
20 What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light, and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.
21 What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever.
24 Therefore, just as fire licks up stubble and dry grass shrivels in the flame, so their roots will rot and their flowers wither. For they have rejected the law of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies; they have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
25 That is why the LORD’s anger burns against his people, and why he has raised his fist to crush them. The mountains tremble, and the corpses of his people litter the streets like garbage. But even then, the LORD’s anger is not satisfied. His fist is still poised to strike!
The 9/11 attacks were shocking, but they should not have caught anyone off guard. Islamist extremists had long made it clear they intended to kill large numbers of Americans indiscriminately.
According to the 9/11 Commission’s Final Report, “The most important failure was one of imagination. We do not believe leaders understood the gravity of the threat” (911commission.gov/report). They had somehow lost the ability to conceive of pure evil. Many Americans who embrace the goodness in people have become “evil skeptics.”
What steps can be taken? The 9/11 Commission Final Report recommended that to prepare and protect against such threats and attacks; we must recognize the malicious intent of pure evil.
Broadly speaking, evil—including moral wrongdoing—is often explored in theological discussions, such as the problem of evil (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). The conversation surrounding pure evil and absolute good moves beyond the philosophical to the theological. When the existence of God is denied, so is the reality of pure evil. History demonstrates that labeling others as “evil” can be misused to justify harm; however, this risk does not negate the validity of the concept itself.
For those who stand on the truth of God’s Word, there is no compromise in the belief in absolute good and evil. Evil exists in this broken world, and there are those committed to working against God’s purposes, especially against the children of the King.
1 Kings 21:25 serves as a stark reminder of how evil can take root and thrive in a fallen world. “No one else so completely sold himself to what was evil in the LORD’s sight as Ahab did under the influence of his wife, Jezebel.”
REFLECT & PRAY
“The wheels of justice turn slowly, but grind exceedingly fine” (Sun Tzu).
Father, we live in an age where good has been considered evil, and evil has been considered good, and what is evil is celebrated as good. Help us to stand firmly for righteousness, truth, and life.
INSIGHT
Evil and injustice strike deeply at the heart of the Father. He does not remain neutral or passive in the face of such things.
Isaiah 5:24-25
24 For they have rejected the law of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies; they have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
25 That is why the LORD’s anger burns against his people and why he has raised his fist to crush them. The mountains tremble, and the corpses of his people litter the streets like garbage. But even then, the LORD’s anger is not satisfied. His fist is still poised to strike!
However, the Father does not always act immediately, and the consequences are often disastrous collateral damage.
Ecclesiastes 8:11 When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong.
Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil.
When the scales of justice tip too slowly—or worse, not at all—the result is often an even darker wave of evil. Timely action is crucial; without it, we risk letting wrongdoing fester and grow.
Ecclesiastes 8:11 reminds us, “When punishment for a crime is delayed, people feel free to act wickedly.”
This verse warns us that delayed justice doesn’t just fail to deter wrongdoing—it actually feeds the cycle of evil.
If evil acts were punished immediately, people would be discouraged from committing wrongdoing. However, with justice moving so slowly, some feel they can get away with even the most heinous crimes—both in a literal and figurative sense (Ryken). It gets worse when this mindset shifts from individuals to groups. Groupthink emerges as a psychological phenomenon where the desire for harmony or conformity within a group leads to irrational or harmful decisions. This collective mindset reinforces an individual’s confirmation bias.
Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek out or interpret information that aligns with existing beliefs. Typically unconscious, this skewed way of processing information is often irrational and one-sided.
When people lose faith in God, they lose sight of why life holds value. Without that foundation, they drift from righteous living and allow their hearts to turn toward evil (Ryken).
Revelation 19:6-16
6 Hallelujah, for the Lord God omnipotent reigns.
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war.
14 The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses.
15 From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress.
16 On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of kings and Lord of all lords.
Isaiah 5:20-21
20 What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light, and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.
21 What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever.
Every child of the King is called upon to stand against evil. We are to choose life and not death. We are to choose to do good and not evil. We are encouraged to embrace life in all its vibrant beauty, steering clear of the shadows that lead to despair. We must actively choose the path of goodness, embracing kindness and compassion while firmly rejecting the allure of wrongdoing.
Deuteronomy 30:19 I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. . .. Oh, that you would choose life . . .!
¯_(ツ)_/¯5-15-2
© Dr. H 2024
Dr H Reflections 