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“Aaron, you can’t be shocked when these things happen.” Nick told me this about our friend, Darren, whom we both respected. I looked up to him before I became a Christian. I thought he was a model of what a Christian should look like.
Now he was having sex with his girlfriend. Speechless and confused, I disbelieved it at first. I didn’t believe he was capable of it. But, gradually, Nick helped me put my finger on moral evil and understand it in light of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
People discount evil all the time not believing their daughter is capable of it or their dad could do such a thing. Acknowledging evil in those we love is one of the hardest things to do…unless the resurrection is true.
If the resurrection is true, then you can acknowledge all forms of evil—even the corruption in yourself.
If the resurrection is true, then you can: 1) Acknowledge evil like tornadoes and hurricanes 2) Acknowledge evil like lying, cheating, stealing, greed, and lust 3) Acknowledge evil in yourself like jealousy, pride, and envy.
WHY?
Jesus overcame evil and freely offers us the trophy of the race he won and the victory of the battle he fought. This assurance is extended beyond the time our lungs expire.
Without assurance that evil with vanish, such knowledge would be too heavy to carry and remain sane.
God will not let his creation forever have the odorous smell of evil. So Jesus came to make clear the reality of evil, lest any try to deny it, and to remove it by experiencing it through an unjust death and overcoming it through the resurrection.
Jesus’ resurrection overcame evil for the entire world. The creation of his new body became the beginning of a world where there are no twisters to overturn mobile homes, storms to floods cities, or coworkers to lie behind your back. There will be plenty to eat and plenty to do with no deadlines.
When my friend Darren—the praiseworthy Christian—did such an unchristian act, I couldn’t acknowledge it. I didn’t have the understanding that evil is in all of us and that Jesus died to remove that evil.
By viewing the victory Jesus purchased as your victory, you can accept that you yourself have evil in you, receive Jesus’ power to make better decisions, and begin living in the way God’s people will live in the new world.
All that we want hidden has already been exposed. All of which you are ashamed is known more by God than you care to think. But God has defeated it through his love. Plus, you have to acknowledge evil because you can’t overcome what you don’t know.
So you don’t have to deny your pride nor do you have to accept it as the chief dictator of your decisions. You don’t have to ignore the sloth in your friend nor do you have to hate him when you accept it. God has forgiven you and empowered you with his love.
Now you have the power to do the same. The resurrection is the trophy with extra space for your hand to take hold and share its victory.
Thanks,
Aaron