Run from Evil

“Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good.” (Romans 12:9 MSG)

Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between Good and Evil.  

Las Vegas is an artificial city in the middle of a desert. It lures tourists from around the world with flashing lights, fake replicas of world wonders, and illusions of riches. Vegas markets itself as a place to have a ‘good’ time and a ‘family friendly’ vacation destination. It is also known as ‘Sin City’--thereby lulling tourists into thinking that sin is good. Beneath the opulent facades, the city is teeming with seediness, desperation, and loss. Most visitors eventually realize that the place is one big sham.

Evil works through deception. It falsifies evidence, distorts truth, and exploits our weaknesses. Like a fly fisherman, Evil creates customized lures to specifically entrap each of us. He baits us with pride, anger, lust, greed, gluttony, apathy, and envy. He hooks us with fear, anxiety, insecurity, addictions, impatience, entitlement, exhaustion, and self-justification.

Most of us sense that there is an ultimate truth based on goodness, although it is beyond our full understanding. Many of us can also sense when something is false, even when the signals are faint. It may be tempting to indulge our dishonorable nature, to ignore the subtle warnings, and to allow ourselves to be ensnared by evil. However, let us choose to run from evil and hold on for dear life to good.  

Lord, safeguard us against everything false. Grant us the discernment to recognize deception and stay away from it. Help us to cling to what is good and true.