I recently heard someone say that darkness is the absence of light. Light is something and darkness is nothingness. He went on to say cold is the absence of heat. Heat is something cold is nothingness. He continued on and said, “Evil is the absence of goodness. If we add goodness to a life evil isn’t.” Goodness is something and evil is nothingness. I was uncomfortable with the premise. Evil isn’t nothingness. Evil is real. Evil is palpable. Evil isn’t just creepy it is a destructive, sadistic force based on selfishness and perversion. Maybe we should say goodness is the absence of evil. But that isn’t correct either. Goodness also is palpable. One can sense being in a good place just as one can sense being in an evil place. And when the wolf is in sheep’s clothes the evil is so much more evil.
The psalmist wrote, “Though I walk through the valley of death.” Most likely all of us have been in such a place. However, “I will fear no evil for thy rod and staff comfort me.”
There is a wonderful song with the words,
“There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place,
And I know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord;
There are sweet expressions on each face,
And I know they feel the presence of the Lord.
Chorus:
Sweet Holy Spirit, Sweet heavenly Dove,
Stay right here with us, filling us with Your love.
And for these blessings we lift our hearts in praise;
Without a doubt we’ll know that we have been revived,
When we shall leave this place.”
Remember the song, “Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go. Anywhere he leads me I am not afraid.” Goodness is real and it’s a treasure.
Written by Roger Bothwell on July 24, 2014
Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org