The month of April triggers some scary memories for me. I remember sitting in my car listening to the radio reports that a gas line had broken in Oklahoma City causing an explosion at the Murrah Building. I was living in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the time. Not in a million years could I have imagined what Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols did on American soil April 19, 1995. Only four short years after that event, on April 20, 1999 Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold perpetrated a crime that continues to affect us to this day. You may want to listen to an important talk by best-selling author Frank Perretti here. He speaks from his personal experience and shares his insight into the dark world of bullying and how it can transform a wounded spirit into a dangerous tool for evil.
No one is exempt from trials and temptations in this life - not even Jesus. As a matter of fact, right after Jesus is initiated into public ministry by John the Baptist, he hears his father's voice of approval and distinction and is lead into the wilderness to face the devil. Jesus clearly defeated the devil and his evil ways. According to scripture, Jesus has and takes authority over evil and released people from evil's captivity during his ministry. So, then, why does evil continue to wreak havoc in our world?
The biblical view of evil is that it's complex and comprehensive. Have you noticed that battle language is used when evil is mentioned in the Bible? Do you know your enemy and how to fight against him? Scripture is very clear. But, people in the Western world often disregard evil as primitive and a result of bad choices. However, one of evil's greatest ploys is to convince us it doesn't exist. The Great Enemy is mentioned throughout the Bible and is the title of the chapter we read for this week from Tim Keller's book Encounters with Jesus: Unexpected Answers of Life's Biggest Questions.
Be certain. Our hope rests in a Savior who knows what it's like to face the devil and win. Not only can God overcome evil but he will triumph over it.
A wise man suspects danger and cautiously avoids evil, but the fool bears himself insolently and is [presumptuously] confident. Proverbs 14:16 The Amplified Bible
-Pastor Jen