Last Friday I watched stunned and sickened as the news programs revealed that a 20-year-old shooter had taken the lives of 20 elementary-aged school children in Connecticut. As the news anchor interviewed criminal experts trying to uncover every detail that they could give us, the question was asked, “Why? Why would someone premeditate going to an elementary school to kill not only staff but many, many children?” The response to the question was basically this, “We don’t know but throughout the investigation things will be uncovered and we may come to some understanding of what led this individual to make such a choice.” He went on, “But, really, it doesn’t matter. We can’t make sense of something senseless, so does it really matter why?”

When we see an upswing in violence from young people, when we see moral decay, do we simply ascribe it to those who are “troubled” and not take the time to ask why? Or try to take any personal responsibility for the ramifications of our actions and habits both personally and as a nation? I find the response of the person interviewed to be sad and hopeless. If there is no reason why then we have no hope to change it. No hope to protect ourselves. No reassurance that there is anything we can do to help. So, the only option is to watch. Shake your head and grow in your hatred of evil.

But do we hate evil? Or do we tolerate evil? Or perhaps even contribute to it? Do we know what evil really looks like or is it just the sick feeling in the pit of our stomachs when we see something like this happen that tells us when we are in the presence of it?

In Genesis 3, Satan deceived Eve into eating of the “Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.” Was that evil? I mean, all she did was eat some fruit, right?  The point of this illustration is that God is the one who decides what is good and what is evil. Eve tried deciding for herself, which was sin against God, and that has been the same choice each person throughout time has made (Romans 3:23). The mantra goes something like this, “Don’t trust God to tell you, figure it out for yourself. Listen to your heart. Feel it in your gut.” Surely that is a reliable source, right? Surely you can trust yourself! Or can you?

The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9

When things are going wrong in our lives, in our families, in our nation, it is of the utmost importance that we ask the question, “Why?” “Where are we going wrong?” “How can we make changes?” And those questions must always be asked of God and answers found in His word of truth. There is no other truth. Only gut feelings and human reasoning, which sometimes may bring us to a right decision—after all it wasn’t called just the tree of knowledge of evil.  But the only way to know for sure if your heart, gut, feelings are leading you in the right direction is to ask God to light your path with His Word.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105.

Every time we transgress the law of God and call evil good we are inviting calamity to follow (Isaiah 5:20). Not because God is a vengeful God, but because that is the result of sin. In this world we think we know better than God and that some of His laws are archaic and we have become enlightened beyond His expertise. But He reminds us, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7). We cannot color outside the lines and have lives, families, schools, and nations with peace, love and joy. Those qualities are of God, not of the god of this world who is Satan the devil (2 Corinthians 4:4). God has given us His rules for our good, not to control us or inhibit our happiness, but for OUR good!

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

…Keep His statutes and His commandments which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days… Deuteronomy 4:40

When are we going to start trusting the One who created us, the One who died for us, the One who calls Himself our “Daddy” because of the fond affection He has for us (Romans 8:15)? When are we going to stop running away from Him into the arms of the deceiver (Revelation 12:9) who wants to destroy us ?

If we want to know why these things happen, consider these traits of the western culture and ask yourself what possible effects these ungodly things might have on those young people who are raised to think they are good:

Divorce

Abortion

Single parenthood

Violence for entertainment

Unwed sex as entertainment

Priority on business and no time for family

Morally neutral leadership

Celebration of homosexuality

Note: This list doesn’t even include the rampant unsavory practices of our culture, only those which are considered socially acceptable and celebrated as progress.

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20