Devotional:

We live in a fallen world. We don’t need anyone to tell us that evil and sin exist. We just need to watch the news for 5 minutes or take a look back at our thoughts over the course of a day.

The hope of every Christian is that one day, evil will be eradicated and we will reign with Jesus in a new kingdom where there is no more evil, no more sin. We’ll join those who went before us in singing, “Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty” (Revelation 15:3).

So why all the waiting? Peter, one of Jesus’ close friends and followers, writes, “… do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:8-9).

Sin and all of its consequences show us how much we need Jesus. Without the option to do wrong, the choice for Jesus would not mean anything. It would be like an election in which only one person is on the ballot. No, God gives all of us the option of either serving ourselves or serving Him. His desire is for us to choose Him. That is when it really means something. John 1:12-13 says that everyone who chooses God by believing in Jesus, “he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Yes, evil is real. We are free to choose it if we want. The good news, however, is that Satan does not have unlimited power. God and Satan are not equals. Satan can only do what God allows him to do. God is in charge, and in the end, He wins. Period.

We can take comfort in knowing that God always finishes what He starts. Revelation 15:3 says that God’s ways are “just and true.” This means that if God promises something He will always come through, and it will ultimately turn out for good.

Reflect:

• What areas of your life have not been totally surrendered to God? What can you begin to do today to surrender those things?
• What bad thing(s) in your life do you need to give to God and trust Him to take care of for you?
• God’s promises are only available to those who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. If you haven’t taken that step, what’s stopping you? Find out more about salvation here.