[Truth 7 of 14; 3 minute read]
The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden defined the two distinct paths that mankind takes by their own free will, each going in opposite directions and drew the lines for the cosmic war, spiritual warfare, between good and evil; between God and His enemy, Satan.
Evil can only exist if good exists and good can only exist if God exists.
There are only two sides in this epic battle, a winning side and a losing side, each revealed in the book of Revelation. God is the winning side, representing goodness and righteousness, making the rules and setting the perfect standards for life and death as only the Creator of the universe could do.
Satan is the personification of evil and represents evil and unrighteousness and the selfishness of all unbelievers who love the sins of the flesh instead of God. And just to make it clear, all non-believers (those who have never accepted or outright reject Christ as their Lord and Savior), are also the enemies of God.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught about the narrow and wide gates:
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction (eternal separation from God and never ending punishment in Hell), and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life (salvation and eternity in Heaven) and only few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14).
It must be understood that because of Adam’s sin we are all born “lost,” separated from God, traveling on the broad road leading to destruction. All of mankind is condemned to eternal punishment in Hell until they are not, only because they “get saved” from the penalty of sin by accepting His grace through faith in Christ.
Good and evil represent the narrow and broad roads that all people are on, one with the blessings and the other with the curses. Too many fall for the lies of Satan, sin and evil. Sinners continue to be hoodwinked, bamboozled, led astray, run amok and flat out deceived by the enemy of God. (That’s a perfect description of what Satan does to all of us.) But a “few” will overcome him and find the righteousness of God.
God deliberately allows every human being to be exposed to evil and its source in the spiritual realm. The apostle Paul explains:
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious].” (Ephesians 6:12-13 NIV)
Once the full number of individuals willing to receive God’s offer of forgiveness and transformation has been reached, God will permanently remove them from this creation and also remove from their presence anything less than perfect goodness (all evil). God designed every aspect of this vast universe for the eradication of evil, separating the “wheat from the chaff.” Woe (judgment) is coming for evil in our world; God’s justice; “just” what we deserve when we deny Jesus Christ. (Source: Romans 8:18-25; Revelation 20-22).
We are all participants in this great battle every day of our earthly lives… willing or not, on one side or the other, but you cannot be on both sides at the same time. You must choose a side. One will win. One will lose for eternity and eternity is a long, long time to be wrong. Don’t be wrong!
Which side are you on? Which road do you travel? Which gate will you enter? Be one of the few. Seek Him. Accept his free gift of grace. Tell others about His love.
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