Evil is Real!
Evil is real. Evil is so real. We have been reminded about this truth once again. Right now evil is easily seen as a person shooting seemingly random people in our area. Evil is easily seem as a shadowy terrorist organization that has killed thousands. Evil is easily seen as an unknown individual who has killed several by mailing anthrax. Evil seems so obvious, but this is not always the case.
It is so easy to see evil outside of our own lives, but you and I are evil as well. The letter that James writes describes how that evil works in our own lives (James1: 13-15).
First we are tempted not by God but by our own evil desires. Next we are enticed by this evil desire we have. The evil, sin-corrupted part of us has desires and pulls at us and tries to get us to act on these desires.
Once this desire is conceived, it gives birth to sin. Sin is action and thought. Jesus teaches us in the Sermon on the Mount that sin starts in our heads. For example, murder is not simply physically killing someone; we can kill with our words (Matthew 5:21 -26).
Finally, when sin is full grown, it gives birth to death. We start as slaves to sin. It rules our lives and in the end it kills us. We would suffer a physical as well as spiritual death.
But, we know that Jesus lives! We know that Jesus died the death of sin and conquered the final enemy, death. We know that Jesus rescues us from death and brings us into life. We also know that if we are one of God’s people, the Holy Spirit lives in us and gives us the power to overcome the evil desires in our hearts (1 John 4:6)
Even though you and I see evil out in the world, we must not forget that we too are evil, but Jesus gives us the hope and power to overcome this evil.