Evil?

There's a new show on CBS called Evil.  The main characters are a psychologist and a Catholic priest, and they investigate "supposed miracles, demonic possessions and other extraordinary occurrences...examining the origins of evil."  

While the description sounds okay, the show's previews were enough to give me nightmares - Evil.  My reaction was, "That looks creepy.  Who would watch it?" 

On a higher level, I consider, "Where do people think up this stuff?  What does this say about us?"

I just finished a historical book set during World War II.  During that time, people seemed to take pleasure in mistreating, degrading, and having power over others.

And I'm bothered by this evil and the inhumanity of it, and that it still goes on today.

Again, "What does this say about us?  How do we explain this evil in our very beings?"

We live in a fallen world, a broken world.  And we want to know that we matter, that we're as good as the next person, that we have purpose, that we're okay, that people listen, that somebody loves us - all of that and more.

At the heart of it all, it's about having control in life, being in power.  It's about wanting to be "somebody."  From the little bitty things, to the big atrocities, it's about wanting to be god, to be the most important, to win. 

And while I can't equate Nazi horrors, murders, torture, and abuse with our daily jealousies, relationship issues, and personal selfishness, I recognize that they're all symptoms of our sin, of my sin.   

Examining the origins of evil isn't difficult.  As Satan told Eve:

For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.  Genesis 3:5

Wanting to be like God, being like God.  Wouldn't that solve everything for us?

No, it wouldn't.

...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  Romans 3:23

We all have sin and have evil in our hearts, in our very being.  We sin against others, and we're sinned against.   

Our only hope is in Jesus, of our rebirth in Him, forgiveness of sins through Him, and hope in the new life.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9

[Jesus] has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.  Colossians 1:13–14

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  John 1:5

Jesus is the light, and He has overcome the darkness, the evil in this world.