Evil, A Case Study

2 Chronicles 12.1,14

1 After Rehoboam's position as king was established and he had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the LORD....14 He did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the LORD. (The New International Version, 1984).

You can be physically sick *to a certain degree.* The doctor studies the reports from the laboratory and the pathology department and will then tell you how sick you are. If you have AIDS or cancer, you may become quite interested in your "counts." The blood counts will tell tell you how sick you are today compared to yesterday or last month. However-if your heart has stopped beating-does it really matter?

Without a functioning heart, no other measures of disease or health are relevant. They will not tell us anything that can help the deceased patient.

A person who hears the Word of God may think that he has several choices about how he will receive it. In reality, there are only two. ***He can be like evil Rehoboam or he can "set his heart on seeking the LORD."*** This is what Jesus was teaching when he explained the parable of the sower and the seed:

Luke 8.14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. (The New International Version, 1984).

The world tells us to accept many things as good and to consider very few things as evil. The Bible tells us that we will do evil, like Rehoboam, if we do not set our hearts on seeking God. He allowed "life's worries, riches and pleasures" to choke out the Word of God. There are MANY varieties of evil. There is but ONE Way to righteousness (Matthew 7.13-14; John 14.6). Is your heart beating for God?. As you look at these verses, remember that "God is love" (1 John 4.8):

1 Corinthians 13.1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. (The New International Version, 1984).

When you present the Word of God to another, you are giving a person the opportunity to have peace with God, salvation, abundant life and eternal joy!!! Challenge the hearer to "set his heart on seeking the LORD." There is no substitute for it and to do less is to do evil-and remain apart from Christ.

Lamentations 3:21-25

21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:

22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.

25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him..." (The New International Version, 1984).

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We recognize that so often we depend on ourselves. We want to serve you wholly and completely. Please give us a heart that yearns to serve only You! So many worries and pleasures often cause us to look in other directions. Quench those desires and clean our hearts, so that we can be used only for Your glory, not our own. In Your Son's name, Amen

By Brad Forgy, Used by Permission.