DO GOOD!

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. [Romans 12.21]

I think many of us have a wrong view of doing good. 

We think of doing good as just not doing evil.

But, that is not the case at all. Doing good is a thing all by itself. In fact, doing good is a force that conquers and overcomes evil.

Jesus spoke of the house that was swept and clean of one evil spirit, but became occupied with seven more evil spirits:

Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation.” [Matthew 12.44-45]

The absence of evil is not good. Good is not just avoiding evil. Good is an action.

Just as evil is a force, good is a force that conquers it. We must be mindful of this at all times.

Let's shift gears... If good conquers evil, then we are not good unless we are conquering evil! It is simply not enough to avoid evil! Goodness goes for the throat of evil. Goodness seeks out and destroys evil. For every purposeful act of goodness, there is a reactive loss of evil. 

Doing good conquers evil!

It is interesting that Paul said, "Don't let evil conquer you..." But that is precisely what is accomplished when good people do nothing.

Shifting gears again... It is not enough that we are simply "saved." We must actively attempt to look and act like Jesus here on earth. Jesus didn't just "not do bad things." No, instead, Jesus went about doing good! He healed the sick, raised the dead, walked on water, spoke to storms, fed thousands, and taught the ways of God and His Kingdom!

But we can't do those things, right? Of course we can't if we do not first try! And we will not learn what "works or doesn't work" unless we try! And we will never overcome evil if we do not try enough to finally push past all the junk that prevents us from looking and acting like Jesus. I am sorry, but miracles have not passed away - miracle workers have passed away!

We must make a conscious effort to overcome evil. We do so by consciously doing good like our Master Example Jesus! It is a matter of purpose and commission - and our purpose and commission is to look and act like Jesus!

So there. What I have said here is not popular, but it is right. It is good, and, as such, conquers the evil ignorance that we have far too long allowed ourselves to live in!

DO GOOD! In the name of Jesus! DO GOOD!

Father, thank You for this reminder today that good is a force that overcomes evil. Help me to purposefully do good in a conscious effort to overcome evil!