Recently I heard this little quote: “For evil to win, good must do nothing.” I don’t remember where I heard this, but it stuck with me as I realized what a truism it is. Let’s examine the thought.
Too often, when evil becomes an overpowering force, we don’t see anyone standing up to fight the evil. It’s just too easy for good people to stand idly by and do nothing. Sometimes, this occurs because they feel too outnumbered, unprepared or just simply don’t want to get involved in whatever is happening. There are many excuses why Christians don’t step up to the plate and swing at the fast ball. Yes, Satan is fast in performing his evil and trickery.
Peter described Satan as “a roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). A hungry lion is loud, overbearing and vicious. He threatens and intimidates everything around him and devours his prey quickly. Peter said the solution to Satan’s evils is to “Cast all your care upon God for He cares for you…be sober, be vigilant. Resist Satan steadfastly in the faith…the God of all grace will make you perfect, establish, strengthen and comfort you” (1 Peter 5:7-10).
I submit to you that being sober and vigilant is to guard against the sinful practices of the world and not to allow them to separate one from God’s care. There are people in the world who have only evil agendas. They teach and spread evil contamination and filth. If all Christians will take a stand for God and good, those who are spreading evil can be overcome. Good people must not be “overcome of evil but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). We must not submit to evil forces but stand our ground for the Lord. That means we can’t sit idly by. That’s what Satan hopes will happen when he threatens because it will make his work easier.
In reminding the Thessalonian brethren of their Christian heritage, Paul told them, “Our exhortation was not error, uncleanness nor guile but we were allowed of God to be entrusted with the gospel and so with it, we speak, not as pleasing men but God…we didn’t use flattering words nor a cloak of covetousness…nor did we seek glory…but we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherishes her children” (1 Thessalonians 2:3-7). Christians must care for the souls of the lost and be ready to do whatever it takes to reach out to them with the truth. We can’t just sit idly and let evil triumph. We must be active in overcoming evil with good.
Sometimes doing good may seem like a daunting task and one that we think can’t be accomplished. True, we may not have the courage of Daniel or preach like Paul, but if what we are about is actually God’s goodness, we can rest in the assurance that “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). We will receive help from the Lord! We read in 1 John 2:15-17, “Love not the world nor the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, are not of the Father but of the world. The world and the lust of it will pass away but he who does the will of God abides forever.” Jesus spoke out against sin and paid the ultimate physical price, but His spiritual soul is at rest with God. We must know what the Bible teaches about sin and “be ready always to give an answer to every man who asks a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). We must speak out against sin, or we and our country will be overcome by it!
