viewoutsidethepew

On July 28, 2012 I wrote down a thought about good and evil (it follows in italics), and today was able to finish the thought.

What does evil demand from you in this life? = nothing! The less you do the more you are a part of evil.

What does God demand from you in this life? = everything! The more you do in God’s name the more evil will work to make your life hell on earth. Yet the Realm of God is within you. That’s good.

What does evil demand in eternity? = takes everything! Hell is a state where you are eternally drained and never filled.

What does God demand in eternity? = nothing! Heaven is a state where God eternally gives.

Good builds; evil destroys. Good gives a purpose beyond our own interests; evil feeds our own interests without regard for others.

And God is good. The devil is evil.

Joshua commanding the sun to stand still (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Joshua said, “ ‘Fear the Lord, and serve him with integrity and faithfulness…and serve only the Lord. But if you don’t want to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Even if you choose the gods your ancestors served…, my family and I will still serve the Lord.’
The people responded, ‘It would be unthinkable for us to abandon the Lord to serve other gods. The Lord our God brought us and our ancestors out of slavery in Egypt. He did these spectacular signs right before our eyes… We, too, will serve the Lord, because he is our God.’
But Joshua answered the people, ‘Since the Lord is a holy God, you can’t possibly serve him. He is a God who does not tolerate rivals. He will not forgive your rebellious acts and sins. If you abandon the Lord and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you. He will destroy you, although he has been so good to you.’
The people answered Joshua, ‘No! We will {only} serve the Lord!’
Joshua said to the people, ‘You have testified that you have chosen to serve the Lord.’
They answered, ‘Yes, we have!’
‘Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Turn yourselves entirely over to the Lord God of Israel.’
The people replied to Joshua, ‘We will serve the Lord our God and obey him.’ ” (Joshua 24:14-24 God’s Word ©).

Get rid of every thing, every idea, every person, every memory and every habit that drains your attention and loyalty away from the good God. Choose good.