Evil does not win – Graham’s latest Affinity message
The last few weeks have been disturbing for many reasons.
There was the vote to essentially decriminalise abortion for women up to birth, followed in the same week by the bill to legalise assisted suicide. Both these votes will perpetrate evil acts and be detrimental to our society in many other ways. Both represent a profound lack of the fear of God, morality, and, despite claims to the contrary, a tragic lack of care and love. (For more on this, see my post on the Affinity blog.)
It is also a troubling time internationally, with an escalation of tensions in the Middle East added to the many other conflicts across the globe.
Given the apparent rise of evil, it would be easy to wonder whether God is in fact on the throne, or perhaps more particularly, what he is doing right now.
As the book of Revelation begins, the apostle John sees a vision of Jesus – it is spectacular and awesome. It is so overwhelming that John falls down ‘like a dead man’. Then the risen, ascended, all-powerful Lord Jesus Christ lays his hand on John and says:
‘Don’t be afraid. I am the First and the Last, and the Living One. I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades. Therefore write what you have seen, what is, and what will take place after this.’ (Rev 1:17-19)
The rest of the book gives John a heavenly perspective on the apparent triumph of evil. It shows how things are and what will happen in the future. All of history is under the rule of the risen Christ, and even when evil seems to be winning, he is still in command and will use even the worst human intentions for his good purpose and glory.
So, as this month begins, I cannot give you any reassurance that things will get better right now. But I do want you to feel the comforting hand on your shoulder from the Living One who holds the keys to life, death, and all of history, and to hear him telling you ‘don’t be afraid’. You can trust him and keep on going, secure in the knowledge that he knows what he is doing and will never abandon his people.