See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5:15-16 NKJV

Intro to October series on evil

Choose any month of the calendar year and assign it to good or evil. The newness of our January resolutions seem to evoke a new good in our lives. December brings the good will of Christmas and the lights of Chanukah. In November some Americans acknowledge our thankfulness to God.

Choose any day and you will find both good and evil. Yet if you were to choose one day most celebrated – yes, celebrated for evil – it would be Halloween. October, for this reason, may be the one month most tempting toward evil in each measured year of our mortal flesh.

Therefore, this month I will set aside my usual serial approach to studying a single book of the Bible such as James or 1 Peter in favor of taking on the serpent in the room and his evil agenda against any who would call God and Christ Jesus Lord.

One additional introductory thought: this series on evil will also be rooted in Scripture, rather than the cultural lore associated with the enemy of the Lord God, that fallen angel destined for destruction Satan. God-willing, I will strive to keep each topical post brief, lest the devil sway you from God’s written word.

Ephesians 5:

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Ephesians 5:1 NKJV

Speaking to true Christians (not just those who occasionally show up in a building with a cross somewhere), Paul writes:

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

Evil is always associated with darkness, though some spirits of the dark pose as angels of light. Even Satan is a fallen angel, but more of that in a later post.

“Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light.”

Ephesians 5:14 NKJV

60 ק֥וּמִי א֖וֹרִי כִּ֣י בָ֣א אוֹרֵ֑ךְ וּכְב֥וֹד יְהוָ֖ה עָלַ֥יִךְ זָרָֽח׃
² כִּֽי־הִנֵּ֤ה הַחֹ֙שֶׁךְ֙ יְכַסֶּה־אֶ֔רֶץ וַעֲרָפֶ֖ל לְאֻמִּ֑ים וְעָלַ֙יִךְ֙ יִזְרַ֣ח יְהוָ֔ה וּכְבוֹד֖וֹ עָלַ֥יִךְ יֵרָאֶֽה׃

ישעה 60 The Westminster Leningrad Codex (WLC)

Walk in Wisdom

15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Walk the straight and narrow path without such foolish ways toward where we all tend to wander. We crave the crowds on the left or slip into the mire of the sin on the right.

Redeeming our time implies that we must buy back the lost time for our sin.

But what if you cannot afford the cost of your sin? How long would it take for you to earn your way back into the eternal good of heaven?

Beloved, our mortal days are both evil and brief.

Do not forsake Christ as those who would sway you toward foolish rebellion against His unfailing love do so willingly.

Jesus IS our Redeemer, because of His sacrifice for our sin.

20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Receive the Holy Spirit, Paul urges believers as he cautions against common sinfulness. Your heart is the Lord’s, therefore praise Him above all. Submit to each other, as broken parts of the body of Christ who fear God.

Do you fear God?

“Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

The Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 14:7b CSB

Those who do evil forget their fear of the Lord. The foolish revel in their sins and mock the faith of the righteousness.

We will be judged as good or evil

Yet the Lord will judge good and evil, punishing the tormented souls of evil-doers while showing mercy to the faithful who would do good for God’s sake, because of Christ Jesus.

Christ IS our Savior and Redeemer, Judge of our souls so prone toward sin.

Do you fear God and desire grace at the mercy seat of judgment?

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.

Ephesians 5:8

Jesus is either your Lord or

you must answer for your own sins without redemption.

Let not your epitaph be:

And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD…

To be continued...