Evil does not grow and develop in a vacuum. It develops in the human heart when the presence of God is absent. Satan loves nothing better than for humanity to believe God doesn’t exist nor should he be allowed to have influence in our culture.
At the writing of this article (11/8/18), California has just experience a shooting with 13 dead and many more wounded and maimed. These mass shooting will continue to happen because there is a sickness in the soul of our culture. When these terrible acts of violence happen it’s easy for people to focus on the means of the violence instead of the true cause. Some scream about guns because they believe guns are the culprit. Others believe that guns don’t kill people……people kill people. Guns, like cars, can be good or bad depending on the hands they are in.
Ever since the creation of man there has been a struggle with evil. Cain and Abel, the first brothers, struggled with evil and one killed the other because of it. Evil in the human heart perpetrated by Satan is the ultimate source.
Genesis 4:2-5
When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain was a farmer. At harvest time Cain brought to the LORD a gift of his farm produce, while Abel brought several choice lambs from the best of his flock. The LORD accepted Abel and his offering, but he did not accept Cain and his offering. This made Cain very angry and dejected.
Here is the core issue. First, when parents don’t teach their children from their own personal mistakes in life the children suffer for it. Adam and Eve had a moral and spiritual responsibility to teach their children that their actions have both natural and spiritual consequences. Children will learn from their own experiences and those of others. When it comes to evil, we should desire our kids to learn from our instructions rather than from their own experience. In this encounter with the two brothers and God, Cain learns the hard way what his behavior cost him. His parents should have educated him about the importance of God sacrificing the first animals to cover the consequences of embracing evil. Scripture says without the shading of blood there is no forgiveness. Why? Because God wanted us to see sin for what it is and not just something small.
Genesis 3:21.
And the LORD God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.
Secondly, when parents don’t teach their children that attitudes and motives of the heart affect our lives because evil is waiting to captivate us and our future is doomed. God tried to reason with Cain about embracing evil thoughts but he wouldn’t listen.
Genesis 4:6-7
“Why are you so angry?” the LORD asked him. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you respond in the right way. But if you refuse to respond correctly, then watch out! Sin is waiting to attack and destroy you, and you must subdue it.”
This conversation should have been with Cain’s parents. Where were they? Why didn’t they notice their sons growing hostility and wrong attitudes? God tries to communicate to Cain that he can determine whether evil grows or dies. God tries to help Cain see that “SIN” will “DESTROY” him if he doesn’t resist. In general, the violence in our streets today is born out of parents not teaching their children they have a choice either to give in to evil or resist it. When God told Cain that sin was waiting to attack him he was saying that when your thoughts of walking contrary to God’s will are cultivated and encouraged they will destroy you.
Here is a thought about gun violence. Guns don’t kill people. People who are feeding on evil use guns to kill. People who feed their souls with thoughts of living contrary to God’s will, by living with intentions of self-centered pursuit, encourage destruction for themselves and others. Some translations use the words “You Must Master” your thought or they will kill you. Actions in our lives happen because of what we have trained ourselves to believe….. for good or for evil.
Here is a thought about deaths in the US – CAR ACCIDENTS & DISEASES
In 2010, there were an estimated 5,419,000 crashes, 30,296 of which had fatalities, killing 32,999, and injuring 2,239,000. About 2,000 children under 16 die every year in traffic collisions. Records indicate that there have been a total of 3,613,732 motor vehicle fatalities in the United States from 1899 to 2013.
DEATHS EACH YEAR – The most recent data (2014) reveals that annually there were 2,626,418 deaths registered in the U.S., which equates to: An age-adjusted death rate, which accounts for the aging population, of 823.7 deaths per 100,000 U.S. standard population.Feb 23, 2017
DEATHS EACH DAY – According to the United Nations World Population Prospects report, approximately 7,452 people die every day in the United States. In other words, a person dies in the US approximately every 12 seconds.Mar 5, 2018
Genesis 4:8-10
Later Cain suggested to his brother, Abel, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were there, Cain attacked and killed his brother. Afterward the LORD asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?” “I don’t know!” Cain retorted. “Am I supposed to keep track of him wherever he goes?” But the LORD said, “What have you done? Listen—your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground!
When most people are charged with murder they plead “Not Guilty” because our justice system has developed such warped ideas about what is just and what isn’t that a person can claim insanity or plea bargain down their charge. When Cain tries to deny his actions God doesn’t buy it and holds him accountable.
Thirdly, parents have allowed others to convince them that taking the church out of society will produce a healthy child. Really? The last 2 years of protests/riots in the streets because of politics have been destructive and divisive. When did burning cars, attacking police and looting stores become a healthy way to express differences? This attitude in our current culture has gotten to the place where we think God is evil and shouldn’t be talked about openly or in the classroom. Our culture has done a really good job of taking out references about God from our schools, courtrooms, justice system and even our churches. Most families don’t teach their kids the scriptures let alone equip them to handle life’s challenges by seeking God first.
We have become a culture that thinks we can do very well without God. The end result is we are becoming corrupt to the core and while still believing we can judge fairly. We defend the criminal at the expense of the innocent and think that is just. Our kids don’t know who they are or what they are called to do so they turn to violence to vent their frustrations. When God is removed from the equation, and He will remove Himself if that’s what we want, evil has a highway to our hearts and souls. We start drinking evil like it were Kool-Aid and think it’s refreshing us when all the while it’s killing us.
As believers in the one true God, our responsibility as God’s kids is to reflect our faith, openly even if it means making people uncomfortable or angry with us. For too long Christians have been told to be “Nice” and to be “Quiet” because that is what Jesus would do. Here is what Jesus really said we should do.
Matthew 5:13
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.”
Stand up for your faith and for what Christ did for you on the cross. Study the scriptures so you can have truly good conversations with both unbelievers and believers. If we become the light and salt of the earth many will come to the Lord and get delivered from evil……but not before.
Questions:
Have you talked about God and your faith with people recently? If not, why not?
Are you willing to be a light to a lost and dying world? You can have impact. Start today.
Pastor Dale
So true! You hit the nail on the head with why the world is the way it is! This article motivates me to not let my salty-ness lose its flavor! If you pattern yourself after the world, that’s exactly what happens.
Thanks Pastor Dale!
Hi Bryan
Funny in a sad way how so many professing believers do not think they have an obligation to be light and salt to those they meet. This is basic Christianity 101 and many are still in the dark.
Pastor Dale