Choosing Between Good and Evil, Life and Death, Light and Darkness

January 23, 2023

Choice is very important to God. He gave the angels choice. Lucifer and his demons chose evil. Michael, Gabriel, and the rest of the heavenly host chose good. Adam and Eve had a choice. Choose to live in paradise forever, that is choose what is good. Or choose evil, and rebel against God by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam and Eve chose badly. Moses challenges us to choose life over death (Deuteronomy 30:15-18). Joshua challenges us to choose which God we will serve (Joshua 24:15).

Jesus challenges us to choose light or darkness. We read in John 3:19-20, “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.”

Choices are critical in our lives. It is so easy to choose what is evil. The fallen nature of Adam is our nature. The fallen nature of satan fights against our faithfulness to God. And truth be told, sinning can be so much fun, and so very satisfying, at least in the short term. Afterall, revenge is sweet! Money is power! What happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas.

Let us remember God’s love is always fighting for us. If you turn to I John 4:4-19 John tells us eight different ways that God’s love is fighting for us. The first is I John 4:4, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. The last is I John 4:19, “We love because he first loved us.”

So, why don’t we run into God’s arms when we are struggling with sin? It can be so hard for us to choose God, love, light, and life over satan, hatred, darkness, and death. We love it when our faith makes us feel good. When we are prayed for. When we experience God’s love as a blessing in our life. But God’s love also exposes our evil. When God wants something from us it is more difficult. When God wants everything from us we get angry. We feel the control of our lives is threatened. It is!!!

Today, and every day, we have a choice whether to choose good or evil. To help you make that choice today I remind of I John 4:4, “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” The one who is in the world accuses, covers us in guilt and shame, overwhelms us with fatigue. The voice from the world whispers, “You should be full of doubt, fear, pain, and tears. You’ll never be enough.”

The one who is in you, sent his son Jesus. What held Jesus on the cross? Not three Roman nails, but His unconditional love for us. Where did those nails come from? They came from our sins! The one living in us redeems, loves, forgives, and wins the battle through the cross.

A pastor was finishing work on his sermon when a knock came on his door. A sixteen-year-old girl stood there, afraid, and asked for help. She explained that she was pregnant, her boyfriend wanted her to get an abortion and her parents wouldn’t understand. When she said she didn’t want an abortion he encouraged her in her decision, showed her some scriptures about choosing life, and prayed with her. When she left he prayed that God could use his simple counsel to help the girl.

On a Saturday night almost two years he was at a buffet restaurant with his wife when a young couple began having lots of trouble with their baby. The mother couldn’t hold him anymore and when the father took him he had no more success. They walked past the pastor to leave when the baby made an unbelievable jump into the unsuspecting arms of the surprised pastor. The pastor and the mother’s eyes met and immediately tears flowed from both as they both remembered that night in his office. The mother said, “He never goes to anyone!” as the baby lay totally still, asleep next to the pastor’s heart.

The pastor married this couple two weeks later. Today this couple spends every Sunday morning teaching Sunday school in his church. Twice a week they work in the community for pro-life groups, helping others find life over death (edited from www.inspirationalstories.com).

Is there a hard decision you make regularly to avoid sin, evil, or even death? Have you asked God to help you? Do you have someone you trust who can hold you accountable? Don’t walk your path alone. Loneliness and isolation are two of satan’s favorite tools.