Some things are hard to stay away from, especially things we have an affinity or weakness for. Maybe it’s coffee, chocolate, wine, beer, soft-drinks, or some other kind of food or beverage for you. Just thinking of it makes you weak in the knees wishing for some. Maybe it isn’t food for you but anything that‘s on sale, or any yard sale sign, is very difficult for you to pass up. Some can't help but engage in any argument or fight. What about clothes, shoes, tools, gadgets? Or certain stores or restaurants? Or how about things on TV, whether it be cooking shows, sports, talk shows, violence, or …? Yup, there are things we are drawn to like flies to poop, or bees to blossoms (chances are you would rather see yourself as the bee than the fly, I certainly would).Nothing is more difficult to stay away from than evil. This is so because evil is found everywhere, and you and I, as well as everyone else, are sinners. We have a natural, innate bend towards sin and evil. That’s why God has to tell us, “Stay away (abstain) from every kind (form) of evil” 1 Thessalonians 5:22 (HCSB, parenthesis mine). Some have responded to this command of God through monasticism, unfortunately walls and vows do not erase evil and our weaknesses. Some respond to God’s command by comparing, “I am not as bad as …,” “This isn’t as bad as …” Of course it’s easy to look like a bee compared to a child molester. Unfortunately it is a strategy only flies employ, comparing stink with stink still stinks. Doing nice things with evil motives – stink. All forms of greed (Luke 12:15) – stink. Abstaining from all forms of evil encompasses the stink you and I are drawn to, guaranteed. Evil resides in thoughts, motives, attitudes, value systems, traditions, customs, words, and fears as much as it does in desires, habits, behaviors, and actions.To keep God’s command to “stay away from every kind of evil,” we need to:
- Learn to love, love God and His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another. It is love that conquers sin (1 Peter 4:8), reconciles, forgives, cares, acts selfless, and flies right past all the stink right to all that is beautiful.
- Learn to discern good from evil, which takes a serious study of God’s Word (the Bible), honesty, and practice (Hebrews 5:11-14).
- Learn to love knowing and doing God’s will. If you and I doubt rather than delight in the goodness, the rightness, the blessedness of God’s will we will struggle with the doing of His will. I encourage you to begin with this, “See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all. Rejoice always! Pray constantly. Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18 (HCSB).
To God be all glory, love you,Pastor Hans