“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21
The Haitian government determined that it would be safe to commence the start of school this week…instead of last week. The gangs are still very active in Haiti. The president of the Dominican Republic has placed soldiers on the border to keep the violence from spilling over into the DR. He likened the turmoil in Haiti to that of a mild civil war. To me, it is more of a battle of evil trying to suppress good.
The verse this morning is so applicable for believers living in Haiti; “When you’re faced with evil, don’t return it…overcome it.” This is just the opposite of human nature and what our sin filled world encourages us to do. This fallen world tells us that when somebody hurts you, you hurt them back. When somebody hits you, you hit them back. When somebody slanders you, you slander against them. “Overcome evil with good” is why Jesus Christ came to Earth to show that you don’t destroy evil by retaliating; you destroy it by overcoming it with good. Jesus came to obliterate evil. He came to wipe it out. Evil is going to end one day. It is not going to exist forever. One day God is going to end activity in this fallen world and take his family into eternity with him.
Good and evil are not equal in force or competition. It may feel like evil is stronger and that evil is winning, but love is far stronger than evil. Kindness is far stronger than evil. Good is much greater than evil. In the end, His followers will win. Good will triumph over evil because God is love, and His love will last forever. Evil is going to lose. Victory is assured!
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay