Where does evil come from?
There is no question that evil exists, and that it is everywhere. So, where does evil come from, and what can we do about it?
One of the sources of evil today is our own free will. A good illustration of evil is like rust on metal. The rust does not exist on its own. It is a part of the metal that it contaminates. Evil, like rust, is part of something. It is a part of our human freedom of choice. Evil contaminates our free will, so that we choose evil over good. The bible says: "Temptation comes from the lure of our own evil desires. These evil desires lead to evil actions, and evil actions lead to death."James 1:13-15 (NLT)
We are bombarded by evil acts of men and women who have made choices to do so. Evil is apart of us and our fallen natures, and very often it seems to be in control.
But that isn't the whole story! By faith, we know that God still loves us, and His power is greater than all evil. The proof is Jesus Christ, who was put to death by evil men but rose from the dead by the power of God. Never forget this truth. He sent His Son into the world so that as many people as possible would come to forgiveness, and have a home in heaven where there is no evil. He himself said, "...I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am."John 14:2-3 (NLT)
The Bible says, "Life is like a shadow that quickly declines, a vapor that quickly vanishes away, grass that quickly withers, flowers that fade, a ship that passes swiftly in the night." Jesus said "...I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again."John 11:25 (NLT)
What Happens When You Die?
A recent poll revealed that 89% of Americans believe in Heaven, while 73% believe in Hell. When asked where they think they will go when they die, 3 out of 4 think they will go to Heaven while only 2% believe they will end up in Hell.
Like an unwelcome intruder, death makes a rude entrance into our lives. The problem with death is that it’s almost always unexpected. Even in the best of circumstances, death still has a way of ambushing us. The bible says we are “all destined to die”. (Hebrews 9:27, Ecclesiastes 7:2)
In a story in the bible, we are introduced to two different people on different paths of life. They both came to the end of their lives and both are spending eternity in two different places. As we see in this story, Jesus made it very clear that there is a place called Heaven and a place called Hell. Luke 16:19-31 (NLT)
After we die, we’ll have to give an account for our life. Everything will be made known. Those who had no room for God in their life will be like the rich man who is in torment longing for relief. Only those who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ will go to Heaven when they die. Death marks the final separation. No one can pass from one place to another. Three times Jesus mentions the torment, suffering, and agony of the rich man.
What will happen to you when you die? You and I only have two options – believe in the Lord you’ll go to Heaven. If you don’t, you’ll have to face the judgment of God, and you’ll then spend eternity somewhere else.
Take this first step today “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31) If you would like more information on this topic or have more questions please Contact Us and one of our Staff Pastors will gladly help you.
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