0514 KNOWING GOOD AND NOT KNOWING EVIL

KNOWING GOOD AND NOT KNOWING EVIL

Today we see Paul close his letter to the Romans with one of the simplest and most practical statements with regard to living a holy life that pleases God. In fact, the verse ends with a promise that we would all like to see fulfilled: “And the God of peace will soon crush Satan underneath your feet.”

I don’t know about you, but I’d love to have it happen that God would crush Satan underneath my feet. Sounds powerful. Sounds resolved. Sounds a lot like “It is finished” to me. To see my greatest enemy being utterly defeated beneath my feet would be awesome! All it takes is two simple things to live by. Ready for them?

1 BE WISE ABOUT WHAT IS GOOD. That’s right. Fill your mind with what is good. Let goodness saturate your thought life. Be excellent at what is good. Become an expert in goodness. Think on these things. Meditate day and night upon them.

To be more specific, we are told: “Whatever things are true. Whatever things are honest. Whatever things are just. Whatever things are pure. Whatever things are lovely. Whatever things are of good report. If there is any virtue. If there is any praise. Think on these things.” 

We are told how blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly nor stands in the path of sinners nor sits in the seat of scoffers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law he meditates day and night.

We are told to pray without ceasing. Can you imagine having prayer continually running in the background of your mind? Lord, bless that person who just cut me off in traffic. He must be going through something and I plead the blood of Jesus to bring him peace. I hear an ambulance, and I pray for the situation that has brought that about. I pray during conversations and meals and movies and in every aspect of my life I am rehearsing words like “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy.”

We are told to take every thought captive to make it obedient to the gospel of Christ. We capture every thought and transform it from selfishness to being a captive of the Holy One. This, and more, is what it means to be WISE ABOUT WHAT IS GOOD. 

Then Paul gives the other side of that coin, which is equally important: BE INNOCENT ABOUT WHAT IS EVIL.

Be innocent, like a baby who has no idea about such things. Live in ignorance about the dark ways of the tempter. Live as if you had a total disinterest in such things. Eschew even thinking about it. Flee from youthful lusts, and thus resist the devil.

It is hard to maintain this innocence. It is impossible without the Holy Spirit’s help to accomplish this blissful ignorance. 

My flesh says, “But I want to be aware of the enemy's strategy, so I sort of go underground as a spiritual spy, you might say.” Oh, really? You think that you can outsmart the demons? You think that being more experienced in SIN will make you a better spiritual warrior? Think about that again.

So I reply, “But it’s just curiosity, to see how the other half lives. Once I see it, I’ll just put that little thing back in its box and pretend that I still have spiritual power over the devil and his ways.

“Right,” I say. “But really, I want to be able to witness to my neighbor, so I am learning his language in order to remove any cultural barriers.” Did we learn nothing from our ancestors Adam and Eve? The fruit was pleasing to the eye. It was good for food, And it would give them the knowledge of good and evil (especially the evil!). Curiosity is an excuse. But the day I eat of it, I will no longer be curious. Instead, I’ll be guilty. And I’ll sneak back in to revisit the forbidden thrill. And it will become a habit. And then an addiction, as it will take more and more of my life. And addiction leads to death. Simply don’t go there.

“Just give me a second. In a few minutes I’ll stop. Tomorrow I will give it up forever. After I establish myself, then I’ll change. This is just for a season, and then I’ll take on a more innocent voice. Maybe when I retire I’ll have time to focus on holiness; until then, I sort of need this to cope.” You know how it goes. Don’t you?

No. God says to be innocent about what is evil. He doesn’t say to change later, he says that today is the day of salvation. Be innocent about evil.

Which leads to the question, what is evil? What does Paul mean by it? In light of the rest of the letter, it would be fair to guess that WRONG DOCTRINE would be one of the ways of evil. We teach or believe things that are contrary to sound doctrines. 

Of course, the lordship of Jesus is not just from the neck up. He also would have us to correct our behavior. So watch out for WRONG BEHAVIOR just as much as wrong doctrine.

John tells us of three kinds of sin: The Lust of the flesh. (Food. Sex. Possessions. Any desire/passion). Lust of the eyes. (Greed, envy, covetousness, house, car), And the Pride of life. (Jealousy, ambition, accomplishment, respect, admiration.)

Give it up! Do you hear me? Give it up. Do not give the devil a foothold. Be innocent of evil. Innocent. You don’t gotta know nothin.

THE GOD OF PEACE WILL SOON CRUSH SATAN UNDERNEATH YOUR FEET. Jesus already has. Your confession at the judgment seat will crush him for good. Our unity as a church will destroy his hold on the city in our lifetime.

Let’s get ready by being excellent at what is good. And let’s give up knowing anything at all about evil. What do you say? Is TODAY the day of salvation for you?