The Source of Evil

By:  Dale Weckbacher                   

Ephesians 2:1-2

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

NKJV

Wednesday’s vicious terrorist, that’s right, terrorist attacks in France once again illustrate that we live in a world dominated by evil.  It is easy for us to point fingers at media inciting evil by publishing articles that may offend someone.  It is also easy to point fingers at media, which subjects viewers to evil through movies, television, or video games.  We can even point fingers at religion as a way of inciting evil.

Even though these things may incite some to commit evil, they are not the true source of evil in our world.  In Ephesians 2:2, Scripture points to the true source of evil, the prince of the power of the air.  It is therefore imperative for us to understand who this prince is and what we can do to avoid his evil. 

First, this prince is not a flesh and blood prince but a prince that reins over principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and hosts of wickedness in heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).  As such, the conventional weapons of warfare used against flesh and blood are inadequate.  However, at times, the ongoing war in the spiritual realm spills over into the physical world and we see vicious attacks like what occurred on 9/11 and Wednesday in Paris.  As such, it is the duty of governments to protect their citizens from evil through a strong military, strong law enforcement, and enforcing the rule of law. 

This evil is not something new for it came into the world when Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3).  However, God loves His creation and in Genesis 3:15 promised Adam and Eve that a man would emerge on the scene that would bruise the serpent, Satan’s, head.  Eve looked forward to the fulfillment of this promise so much that when she gave birth to Cain, she believed he would be that man given to her from the Lord (Genesis 4:1) but her hopes were dashed when Cain became to first man to commit murder (Genesis 4:8).  It was not until Jesus Christ came into the world that the promise of Genesis 3:15 would be fulfilled.

So why do we still have evil in the world 2000 years after the birth of Jesus?  The answer is that Jesus first coming 2000 years ago was not to remove evil from the world but to remove the cancer of sin from the hearts of men and women who were descendants of Adam and Eve.  A righteous God could not allow mankind to live with Him in paradise while still having the cancer of sin in their hearts for just as cancer if not removed spreads throughout the body, sin would also move throughout paradise and infect it. 

Okay, but why has God allowed 200 years of evil to happen since Jesus died for the sins of mankind?  The answer is that God is a merciful and gracious God who does not want anyone to perish.  Thankfully, we who have accepted God’s gift of salvation that are still alive were able to do so because God is gracious and merciful.  My readers who have not accepted God’s gift of salvation still have an opportunity because of God’s grace and mercy. 

However, the day will come when Jesus will return and at that time, it will be too late to accept God’s gift of salvation so I strongly encourage you not to delay but to accept God’s gift of salvation now.  John 3:16 tells us that God loved the world and that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life.  1 John 1:9 tells us that if we will confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  No matter how great our sins may be, Jesus shed blood on the cross has the power to forgive them. 

To open God’s gift of salvation, you simply have to confess your sins and believe that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again to cleanse us of our sins.  Pray with me now

Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned and ask you to forgive me of my sins.  I believe you died, were buried, and rose again so I can have eternal life.  Amen

Click on the link for need answers and go to the relationship tab to find a church in your area so you can begin associate with other believers.  If there is no church in your area, you click on the link to the streamed services at Calvary Community Church and listen to some excellent teaching from the Bible.  The required reading tab has a link to an affordable print Bible and a free online Bible.  The recommended reading tab has links to great books to help you grow in knowledge about your new faith.  

Congratulations on your life changing decision for you now are no longer controlled by the source of evil but the source of eternal life.