A Devotional Moment

 

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. ~ Isaiah 5:20

Most of us, even without a religious background, have been taught the basics of right and wrong. We live within the laws made for society, and have recourse to change our actions should it be necessary. But evil lives outside the law. Evil is manipulative, always working to make it appear that evil is good. Evil will even use lofty language or quick anger to justify what we know to be wrong. Discerning the truth rests in the hands of those who work within the law. With great effort, they do much to undo the damage of wrongdoing. At times, the wheels of justice move slow, but with patience, justice prevails—even when that justice isn’t seen on this side of eternity. We know that God always avenges evil.

In Orb, evil stalks the night using an innocent act to disarm and entrap those whom he intends to harm. Because he appears to be unassuming, his fleeting presence isn’t detected for some time. Like a ghost, he flits amongst victims and causes them to believe he isn’t real. But a righteous man figures out the truth, and in so doing confronts the wickedness head-on. Evil loses once again.

How often do we as a society ignore the evil in front of us because we discount it as innocuous or fear the ramifications if we stand up to it? Have you ever looked the other way and told yourself something was none of your business, even though you knew better? Have you fallen into the trap of thinking something evil was actually OK? “White lies” or taking office supplies from work without permission are wrongs that we often justify or simply discount as innocuous. But wrong is wrong. Lying is lying no matter what the reason; and taking something that belongs to someone else without permission, is always stealing.

Mercifully, God forever waits for us to repent, to ask for forgiveness, and to amend our behaviour. Hope always abounds!

LORD, GIVE ME THE WISDOM TO DISCERN TRUTH, AND NOT DISCOUNT EVIL WHEN IT EXISTS IN THIS WORLD. GIVE ME THE RIGHTEOUS TOOLS TO DO GOOD FOR ALL, AND ALWAYS TO STRIVE FOR TRUTH, JUSTICE AND MERCY IN THIS FALLEN WORLD. IN JESUS’ NAME I PRAY, AMEN.