Since sin (separation from God) first entered our world in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve and the forbidden fruit from the "Tree of the knowlede of good and evil" when the serpant(satan) enticed Eve to take of the fruit of the tree that God had told both Adam to not eat of (every tree was ok except this tree).
The reason? Well look at the name of the tree? Before they ate of the tree they had no knowledge of what good and evil even was. God knew that once they ate of it, there was no turning back, sin entered the world through this first disobedient act and they were exposed to the knowledge of what good and evil was, which causes separation from God in a variety of ways.
Since that day in the garden the world has struggled with evil. God had already destroyed the world once because of the evil that took place, only sparing Noah, his wife, their 3 sons and their wives. God promised to never destroy the earth in that manner again(a flood), but next time would be different(not a pretty scene coming in the future), but the point being, evil didn't die, it continued and has continued for centuries up until today.
Evil is not going anywhere. We can create laws, go to extremes to prevent it, but in the end, you cannot stop evil. Evil will prevail. People are still going to shoot people, stab, rape, molest, choke, beat, and blow up other people. No matter how many attempts we make to change laws and create legislation and do things to stop people, there is no stopping evil. Evil knows no law, respects no boundaries, and heeds to no rules. Evil is mentioned almost 500 times in the bible. It's evident in the Old and New Testaments.
Depressing you yet??? The Bible doesn't tell us there will be no evil, but the Bible does tell those of us who know Christ to overcome evil with good. The Bible also says to repay evil with good. Those are foreign concepts to us even as christians sometimes. Also, we have forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ if we repent and accept Him as our Savior.
Imagine if people started doing good and being good(honest, sincere, caring, compassionate, giving, etc....) and also starting doing good to those who do evil instead of seeking revenge or vengence or payback(Keep in mind that is for the Lord to do, not us). Our job is to forgive, His job is to take care of the vengence part. But imagine if one person starting doing that, then another, and another, and there was a ripple affect across our world, it wouldn't happen overnight, but eventually good would start combating evil and maybe there would be more good and less evil in the world.
We live in a broken world there will never be a 100% end to evil in this world filled with broken, confused, bitter, resentful, hateful, mental, and unstable people. Not everyone will stop doing evil, but what if more of us started doing good? Seeking good? Being good? Practicing good behavior? Developiong good attitudes?
If we truly want to see less evil in the world, than we need to starting being better people. Raising better children. Being better classmates, better friends, better employees, and better christians. It's up to you and me and it begins with you and me.
I wish I had an easy answer to end evil and do away with all the crazies who blow up buildlings, shoot up malls, schools, & public places full of innocent people, but I don't. I know that evil has been around since the beginning of time and isn't going anywhere until the Lord returns. We do not have all the answers or we may never understand the "why's" of why things happen like this, but we cannot lose hope or heart in God. There are still good people out there and good for me and you to do and be.
Most of all we serve a God that is good all the time and all the time God is good.
Romans 12:21NIV
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
1 Peter 3:17NIV
It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
3 John 1:11NIV
Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.
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