Life--what do we think of when we think of the word life? What images does it conjure up in our minds? Just like the song 'As Time Goes By' states there are some fundamental things that apply no matter what age you are living in. Good and evil still show themselves in the passions of life. Jealousy, hate, lust, balanced against purity, righteousness, and justice--these things are still as much a part of human nature as they ever were.
John 2:24 "But Jesus did not trust himself unto them, for that he knew all men, 25) and because he needed not that any one should bear witness concerning man; for he himself knew what was in man."
"Even the best of us, have the worst in us; and the worst of us have some good."
With some people it is a real search for either. I have more than once said that we are each born with a void, as it were, for good or evil, and it depends on what we fill it with. It is our choice--we can fill it with either good or evil, and that is what we become.
Matthew 12:43 "But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and findeth it not. 44) Then he saith, I will return into my house whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45) Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this evil generation."
How many times do people overcome destructive habits only to fall back into the same old problems, or even worse? In order to do better a person needs to replace evil with good.
However, even there Jesus' admonition carries a comfort in that Jesus knows what's in man. He knows the good potential each person carries. What a blessing that Jesus is on the Christian's team. More than that, he wants everyone to succeed in doing what is right. He is the author and perfecter of our faith, and leader of the 'great cloud of witnesses' that are cheering for us.
"Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against himself, that ye wax not weary, fainting in your souls."
(Hebrews 12:1-3 ASV)
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
I
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