Good and Evil

For your part, you were not to make any covenants with the people living in this land; instead, you were to destroy their altars. But you disobeyed my command. Why did you do this? [Judges 2.2]

Light and darkness do not mix. Good and evil cannot effectively join. God has known this all along.

As believers in God, our job is not to simply exist in the world around us, but to expand our influence. This is seen in Israel's conquest of the Promised Land and confirmed by Jesus in Matthew 28:

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [Matthew 28.18-20]

This message is consistent throughout the Bible.

Those who died before Christ, those in particular who were slaughtered by Israel, would still have opportunity to experience grace because the Bible teaches that after Jesus' crucifixion, He preached to the captives held in their graves until His time. In New Testament times (now) it is our job to preach the Good News to those who are alive.

Father, thank You that Your Word is not unclear regarding Your love for the world and desire to bring all men into fellowship with Yourself.