1 Thessalonians 5:22(KJV)
Abstain from all appearance of evil.
From our anchored Scripture, evil is to be avoided at all costs. Evil is to be hated with passion and resisted with everything we have. As the children of God, we are to finish the Christian race in triumph. Therefore, we must be on the lookout for whatever appears to be evil and run away from it. Living a righteous life is not automatic as some presume; we have to make a conscious effort to live righteously because we wrestle not against flesh and blood; instead, we wrestle against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). Romans 12:9 says, “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” Obviously, we are to hate evil and cleave to that which is good. Abstaining from all appearances of evil and avoiding questionable activities are effective means of overcoming satanic tricks.
In our world today, turning away from evil is currently missing. We live in a generation with high satanic wickedness in widespread measure. Selfishness, hatred, and all manner of devilish activities have become the order of the day. There is the degeneration of human sympathy and the escalation of cruelty and wickedness. Many are not only doing evil but also seeking it diligently. They rejoiced in all that which God detested. They sought out evil and the occasions for it. When they sought evil, they would not seek good. They put evil first in their lives. Isaiah 47:10-11 says, “For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me. Therefore, shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know.” The request to do evil is not something the devil does directly, nor does he require a clear answer from us. The Bible in Ephesians 4:27 admonishes us not to give way to the devil. As children of God, we must be mindful of our responses to any proposal by the devil because the devil takes a minimal interest in consent. The devil does not give favors away for free; his demands are much greater than the initial investment, losing our souls. Proverbs 1:10 says, “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” Joseph deliberately took a stand against evil by refusing to participate in his brothers’ evil behaviors. So, when we stand against wickedness, we stand alone in righteousness and tall in the crowd.
Beloved, the act of repelling malevolent forces is divine and requires one to maintain impeccable conduct. It is imperative to differentiate oneself from the masses by adhering to the principles of morality and ethical conduct. The wise will abstain from sin and everything that appears evil, but the fool will want to sin and ask for forgiveness. Make up your mind to pray, study the word of God, and fast more. Meditate day and night on the Word of God and discard anything that contradicts God and His Word. As a child of God, re-examine your lifestyle and passions to see if they align with God’s Word. Let the truth of God’s Word transform your life. Today, set your mind on things that are honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. Above all, make God your best friend and delight, setting your affection on things that promote God’s Kingdom, and He will direct your path even unto eternity. As you separate yourself from the Lord in holiness, your purity will stand you out from the crowd and cause you to be exalted in Jesus’ Name. Remember, anywhere evil is being committed, make sure your name is not mentioned or registered there, run as quickly as possible.
O Lord, help me to always shun the presence of evil and agents of evil in Jesus’ Name.