Add to that, his father was king David! - who would have passed along to him the words of God, as well as his experiences (which would have included his experiences with evil and demonic activities).
Why is there evil in the first place? And how does evil have "purpose"?
(Proverbs 16:4) The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, even the wicked for the day of evil.
God created everything, including angels and mankind. Everything at the time of creation was "very good". Free will and choice was given to both angels and mankind! Also a very good thing - in and of itself! God did not make any mistakes there.
It was the angels choice to follow and believe in God - or not. And it is mankind's choice to follow and believe in God - or not.
The angels' decisions have already been made (before the fall of man) and it is final. Some of the angels rebelled, and they are now called demons or evil spirits. In the Garden of Eden, it was Satan (the leader of the fallen angels) who tempted Eve to disobey God.
While in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were following God. Their decision to eat the fruit was the decision to NOT follow God. Because they both disobeyed God's ONE rule - they brought a sinful nature to all people. We all are born into a life of NOT following God, and therefore we now have to make the decision TO follow God.
While God is always in control, God still continues to allow free will and choice! And so evil happens! The evil does not come from God, but He allows it (to a point - and with purpose). How else could anyone of us make a choice either way if we don't see or have the options?
Evil and wickedness is a darkness to avoid! Like - don't even THINK ABOUT "going there". When we walk in and remain in God's light, there are clear advantages!...
(Proverbs 4:11-27) I have directed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; and if you run, you will not stumble.
13 Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life.
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked and do not proceed in the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it, do not pass by it; turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; and they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day.
19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; and if you run, you will not stumble.
13 Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life.
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked and do not proceed in the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it, do not pass by it; turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; and they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day.
19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.
20 My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your sight; keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them and health to all their body.
23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth and put devious speech far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
26 Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established.
27 Do not turn to the right nor to the left; turn your foot from evil.
21 Do not let them depart from your sight; keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them and health to all their body.
23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth and put devious speech far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
26 Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established.
27 Do not turn to the right nor to the left; turn your foot from evil.
When someone lives a life of sin, there is both earthly consequences and eternal punishment. For the believer, when we sin, there are earthly consequences - but ultimately we will enjoy an eternal life of perfection in heaven...
(Proverbs 22:3-4) The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, but the naive go on, and are punished for it. 4 The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor and life.
When we follow God and live obediently, there are advantages. This is why we will experience joy - our overall health will be better - and our paths will be clearer...
(Proverbs 15:29) The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
God sees all, and watches over His children...
(Proverbs 15:3) The eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the evil and the good.
Even if someone is pretending to be good, God sees our hearts and can judge our sincerity. He is not mocked or fooled! He is the righteous judge of everyone...
(Proverbs 16:2) All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, but the Lord weighs the motives.
(Proverbs 21:31) The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the Lord.
- evil has a purpose. God created angels and mankind with a choice. Some angels chose to rebel and so there are now demons (fallen angels). Adam and Eve choice to disobey God and brought sin into the world. All people are born with a sinful nature. So now there is evil, but God who is still in control uses that with purpose for us to see both good and evil in order to make our choice to follow Him or not (Prov.16:4)
- the way of the wicked is dark (Prov.4)
- there will be punishment for sin (Prov.22:3-4)
- sin impedes prayer (Prov.15:29)
- sin tries to justify itself, but God is the judge (Prov.16:2)
- God sees all evil and good, therefore He is watching over His children (Prov.15:30
- sin tries to triumph, but victory belongs to the Lord (Prov.21:31)
Personal experience: I'm so glad that our last church sermon was on this topic!!! If God is good - why is there evil? The main point to remember is that evil is here because God graciously gave everyone a free will..
Today's takeaway: God is everywhere but not in everything. When we choose to become a believer, we are sealed with His Holy Spirit. With God in our hearts and in our lives, while we are still on this earth, we can experience His joy and His goodness...
(Psalm 34:8) O taste and see that the Lord is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
(Romans 8:26-37) In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written,
“For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
No comments:
Post a Comment