The Daily Prompt from WordPress: Explain what you think it means to be wicked, something evil. Well, okay – they asked for it.
Some would say that evil is–as evil does. And I was reading through other blog posts which mentioned that it’s really more of a concept than anything. I believe that’s true; but evil and wickedness goes all the way back to The Garden of Eden. The Tree of Knowledge gave Adam and Eve, and all their descendants, the knowledge and understanding to know the difference between good and evil. And yet, scholars believe 950 years had passed by the time that GOD flooded the earth, saving Noah and his family – because the world had grown too evil. More than 2,000 years after Cain killed Abel, Moses was telling the Hebrews
…But all of you who stayed with the LORD your God are alive today. “I taught you the laws and rules that the LORD my God commanded me. I did this so you would obey them in the land you are ready to enter and take for your own. Obey these laws carefully. This will show the people of the other nations that you are wise and sensible. They will hear about these laws and say, ‘Truly, the people of this great nation are wise and sensible.'” (Deut 4:4-6)
And still, even after giving them “The Big 10”, which really isn’t a whole lot to ask of a person, even by today’s standards, Moses had to go on and give them more than 600 rules to live by, even restricting the sexual activities between self and …mother?? — “You must not sleep with your sister, mother, or your father’s wife”. Really? People had to be told not to do that? Well, that’s a good example of wicked, if you ask me. And let me go ahead and get started, how about all through Chronicles, Kings, for thousands of years, we are told that the kings and the Hebrews “did as they saw fit”, or “did as they pleased”. Always repeating the cycle of serving, falling away, repentance. Evil is all around us. It goes back to the beginning of time. I would that this fact of life, concept you may call it, did not exist, but it does, and it always has. So…why are people so fascinated with it? I don’t know. Now, I don’t proclaim to be perfect by any means. I am a miserable wretched sinner who is absolutely not worthy of the grace and the gifts given to me by my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. I’ve done bad things – evil, wicked things. Did I mean for them to be so? No. I’ve never been the type of person who took delight in killing kittens, but evil isn’t always so ‘in your face’, is it? I was carnal, earthly — and, recently I’ve learned a new, very accurate description — I was a “Daughter of Babylon”. I’m certainly not proud of my past, certain points make me particularly ashamed; but I am grateful and thankful for the chance to be born again and to be saved by the precious Blood of the Lamb that was shed for me. Where am I going with this? I’m not sure, but I know that it’s more important than ever to be able to recognize evil in all its forms so that we may avoid it. Write GOD’s words on a stone and hang it around your neck; keeping GOD’s commands written on our hearts so that each decision, each response, is in keeping with HIS Word, HIS teachings, HIS way. The Light! People! The Light! Avoid the evil things of this world and do not take joy in it. Evil and wickedness is not a spectator sport. It is abomination.
It’s really not that hard when you think about it — It’s really very simple…really – there’s just a few things that you must do:
I am the LORD thy God
Thou shalt have no other gods
No graven images or likenesses
Not take the LORD’s name in vain
Remember the sabbath day
Honour thy father and thy mother
Thou shalt not kill
Thou shalt not commit adultery
Thou shalt not steal
Thou shalt not bear false witness
Thou shalt not covet.
(Deut. 5: 1-21)
AND
There are six things the Lord hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
a false witness who pours out lies
and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
(Proverbs 6: 16-19)
No one is perfect, we will all fail at times; but what’s important is that when we do fall, we get back up, confess our sins, ask for forgiveness, make amends, and get back in the race. In the end, it will be all I ask if I may hear “Well done, good and faithful servant”. …See you there.
Mrs Benham 