What Does The Bible Say About Evil
The Bible mentions the word “evil” several times. It can mean something that is wicked, sinful, or morally wrong. Evil can also refer to anything that causes harm. The term is used both ways in the Word of God, and it is important for us Christians to examine it. First of all, the Bible tells us that anything that contradicts the nature of the Holiness of God is considered evil (Psalm 51:4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.). Meanwhile, in 1 Kings 17:20, the word “evil” can mean any tragedy, calamity, or disaster. There is no doubt that evil is real. Christians are called to defeat evil, and, for us to win against it, we need to know what it is.
Man in his natural state or condition exhibits evil behaviors. It is part of his DNA to commit sin, and often these sins are committed against God and people. We commit evil doings if we steal from our neighbors or practice adultery, murder, and hatred. Human beings also commit evils against God such as disobedience, idolatry, blasphemy, and unbelief. Human beings have failed to obey God right from the very beginning—from the disobedience in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.) to the evilness of Babylon the Great (Revelation 18:2). It is also clear in the Bible that man is held responsible for the evil that he commits. And we can read in Ezekiel 18:20, “that those who sin is the one who will die.”
Evil and Sin
The problem of evil is rooted in the problem of sin. Because there is sin, there is also evil. And there is this “evilness” that is found inside man’s heart since everyone has sinned, and we all fall short of God’s glorious standard (Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,). The problem with mankind is that it thinks that it is righteous and it needs no rescuing. Human beings think that they are innocent and that they deserve no punishment. With this kind of thinking, their minds and hearts were darkened. Because they think that they are “good,” they don’t want to acknowledge God, and they don’t want to accept Jesus Christ into their hearts. In fact, they rebel against God. Because of the evilness of man’s heart, they rebelled against the words or commandments of God and despised the plans of the Most of High (Psalm 107:11 because they rebelled against God’s commands and despised the plans of the Most High.).
The Good Sovereign God
Evil is real but the goodness of the Lord overpowers it. God is the ultimate good and He prevails over all evil in the cosmos. Our God is sovereign over all things, including evil. However, let us not think that God is the author of evil. Psalm 92:15 declares, “The LORD is just! He is my rock! There is no evil in him!” The Bible also reminds us that “when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else” (James 1:13). It is true that God Almighty ordains all things that come to pass, and this includes evil. God does whatever He pleases (Psalm 135:6). God is in control of everything, and He has supremacy over good and evil. We read in Isaiah 45:7, “I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the LORD, am the one who does these things.” But then again, to think that God is the source of evil is in itself evil.
God’s sovereignty should never be made as an excuse for doing evil and wicked things. Whoever commits murder, the blood is on his hands and not on God’s. But why can’t God just stop evil? It is important to note that God allows evilness in this world to exist due to His grace and patience. God can absolutely stop evil from existing with just a snap. But God is patient and has a divine plan regarding sin and evil.
The Parable of the Wheat and Weeds
Jesus said in Matthew 13:24-30, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew. The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?’
‘An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed.
‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked.
“‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’”
The Patience of God
If we carefully study this passage, we will discover that God longs for many people to turn to Him in faith before it is too late. God wants to redeem all of His children in the past, present, and future. He does not want to pull out His children along with evil men. The patience of the Lord is limited, and the Bible tells us that one day the world will come to an end and judgment will come. One day Christians will enter heaven, and, in that place “nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” (Revelation 21:27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.). Bear in mind that just because God has delayed justice and judgment, that doesn’t mean that He committed injustice.
How great and patient is our God! Thankfully, He waits for those who are still living in their evil and sinful nature. This is why we must work hard and share the Gospel of Christ with them. Proclaim to the world that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life and that no one can come to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). Tell the world that He will be back soon, and, in His return, evil will be completely eradicated, and goodness will rule over all creation.
