True Freedom, Saying “NO” to Evil

“And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” Genesis 2:16-17 NIV

All human beings have power to choose either good or evil. It’s called human dignity. God never defiles or taints the freedom of choice. God never forces anyone to choose good or evil. But the power to choose good is available only to the believers in Christ Jesus. No power to choose good is offered to the pagans who are in complete darkness no matter how smart, intellectual, educated they are.

But that’s not the end of story. There is a way-out made by Christ Jesus through the death with blood that whosoever believes in Him whom God sent shall have life (John 3:16). The moment anyone received Christ Jesus the Lord, the power to choose good is available.

In order to choose good in Christ Jesus, we must first say “no” to evil and say “yes” to good. Many a young Christian struggle at this because they don’t understand why they have troubles and sufferings after the conversion experience in Jesus Christ. Many think that it would be an easy ride as long as they attend church services and some group gatherings for bible study or fellowship.

Sufferings and tribulations are essential experience for all Christians, not necessarily because they commit sins but because they are beloved by the Father in heaven. Apostle Paul said that we ought to glory sufferings (Romans 5:3). It sounds uneasy and uncomfortable. Is it not?

But we ought to glad sufferings because through which we may be trained and disciplined to be worthy of the Lord’s calling. Struggles in Christ Jesus are coming from the Father who cares His children dearly. God shed abroad His divine love in our hearts through the Holy Spirit in the sufferings and tribulations (Romans 5:5).

What is it that God wants us to learn? Our heavenly Father aims His beloved children to live in truth and reality. There are good virtues in humanity, pursuing for the well-being of all people on the earth. However, despite of relentless efforts and labors there is no progress at all in human morality. There are all kinds of corruption and rottenness widely spread around the human society in our days as well as in the days of the first century.

There is a much deeper problem in humanity. It is like a monkey wrench in the machinery. Something is gone wrong fatally from within that no human labors can cure. Through sufferings and struggles, God the Father wants us to see the truth and reality on broken and lost humanity. God wants us to see all things as He sees.

The most difficult problem in humanity is pride. The proud mind is deeply drenched in humanity by the invasion of the devil. This evil pride drives people to live in illusions and delusions that they have what it takes for life. It is the lie of the devil. We cannot live without God, not even a second. God is light, the source of energy and life. Without Him nothing was made that was made in the universe.

It is too dangerous for humans to go on living in fantasies and misunderstandings, being deceived by the malevolent and vicious evil one, the devil. That’s why our God the Father sends us difficulties down the road in order to awaken us from the dangerous thought of being self-sufficiency and self-complacency.

The way-out has already been made and offered to all people. It is Jesus Christ the Lord crucified and died with blood in the Calvary. It is the reason for all Christians ought to say “no” to evil and then say “yes” to good in Christ Jesus. We have to put off the old first and then we can put on the new. Putting off is the flesh and putting on, Jesus Christ the Lord who is the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:11).

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV)

Christians are called not for picnic but for battle. This battle is the most fearsome and intense because we wrestle not against flesh and blood [people] but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). But we shall not forget that this battle is not ours but God’s and Christ’s. The Lord Jesus Christ has won the battle and seated on the right hand of God until He make the enemy a footstool (Colossians 3:1, Acts 2:35).

Paul admonished the saints in Rome as well as us in this age. “Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:13-14 NIV)

Here is one more. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2 NIV)