“May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. Jesus gave His life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.” (Galatians 1:3-5 NLT)
Have you ever wondered why you were chosen to live in this present age when darkness and evil are so prevalent?
When my kids were small, we did a lot of camping. At night when someone needed to go to the bathroom, fortunately, it wasn’t hard to find. Why not? If was the area where there was a light. The darker the night, the less light you need to make a difference. A small flashlight can make all the difference when you’re trying to find your way in the dark.
In this present evil age, the darkness at times seems debilitating. That’s Satan’s plan. The harder he can make it to find the “Light,” the better chance he has to trip us up. The term “evil,” as used in the above verses can also be translated “wicked, wicked one, or evil things.” It means: “full of labors, annoyances, hardships.”
One of the pictures this word paints is of something, or someone being pressed and harassed by labors, bringing toils, annoyances, perils. It speaks to a time in a believer’s life when just being a believer sets you up to be ridiculed, attacked, or to become the target of pain and trouble. In this specific context it very likely has reference to “the evil one,” who is Satan himself.
When I was in elementary school, my best friend lived on a street that required me to ride past an older boy’s house who was in junior high. I’m not sure what I did to make him angry with me, but every time I rode by his house, he would run after me, trying to push me off my bike. I dreaded going that way, but it was the only way to get to my friend’s house.
Sometimes that’s what Satan desires to do to us. God sets us on a path to a destination that will bless and help us, but the path often leads us past danger and possible harm. For example, my wife and I have gotten acquainted with a young couple in our neighborhood whom we love and with whom we enjoy spending time.
We’ve had them over to our house and have been to theirs. I’ve often spoken with the husband about the Lord and how vital it is to become part of a healthy church family if he desires to follow Jesus. He’s told me numerous times they’re going to start coming, but it’s been almost two years and they have yet to make it. Why not? Because their life as young parents is “full of labors, annoyances, hardships.”
I get it. I really do. They have two kids under 4 years of age, and both parents are working. Yes, of course, it’s hard, but unless and until they work through the “hard” things that stand in their way, they’ll one day be retired, with grown kids who are now going through the same things they went through, never making time to have a relationship with the Lord.
The words of Jesus ring in my heart and mind: “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”
So many are blinded by the darkness of this world, and we’re the only light that can show them the way to Jesus. It’s frustrating, painful, but critical that we continue to shine the light of love on Jesus, illuminating the pathway to life that can only be found in Him.
Yes, of course, we live in a very evil world, but we serve a Savior who has overcome the world. We’ve been chosen to be His light, and for as long as this body of clay has breath, we must not stop helping others until they finally see His light and find rest and peace in Him.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 