Can anything good come from anything evil?

Good or evil

Regardless what religion, faith, or creed people subscribe to, their goal is presumably to promote something that is good; something that gives freedom, joy, peace, enjoyment, growth, and development – something that builds fellowship – that makes us better people and builds good relationships between individuals and nations.

In order to produce anything good, I must first be freed from everything that is the opposite of good – from evil. If I am to overcome the evil in this world, I first have to overcome the evil within myself.

A good or an evil spring

Everything good in this world has its origins in a good spring, and everything evil comes from an evil spring. “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells,” the Apostle Paul says in Romans 7:18. Therefore, Christianity’s gospel proclaims a cross over the flesh, which is an evil source. Galatians 5:24. Goodness promotes growth, enjoyment, and creativity; evil brings stagnation, isolation, unpleasantness and apathy.

“A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.” Matthew 7:18. “You will know them by their fruits.” Matthew 7:16. The heavenly message Jesus brought transforms the entire tree from evil to good. The good fruits come because the tree has tapped into a good spring from which it draws moisture and nourishment. This good source is God’s Word and The Holy Spirit.

Positive or negative effects

“Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them,” says the Apostle Paul in Colossians 3:19. We could ask: Do words spoken in anger and bitterness have any positive effect whatsoever in a marriage or any other relationship? Bitter words create a heavy, oppressive atmosphere; they result in nothing good, and they do not bring a solution to the problem. The reason for the problems is that you yourself are not free from the evil.

By acknowledging the truth, you discover that it is your own lusts and demands that hinder you. When you are set free from your own self-love, the love you get becomes a positive power that thaws frozen hearts, tears down walls, unites those who are separated, builds relationships and openness, and inspires confidence and trust! Therefore, give rise to positivity!! Give rise to everything good!!

The tongue to the rescue

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21. With the tongue, you can destroy joy and peace and sow doubt and mistrust. However, with the tongue, you can also create a good atmosphere, a good climate for working together, inspiring trust and confidence. All people must eat (live with) the fruit (consequences) of their words.

Revenge and retaliation

Paul writes in Romans 12:17 and 21, “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Retaliation and revenge toward other people has never produced anything good in this world. Vengeance belongs to the Lord. That is His business, His area. It pays, therefore, never to give room in your thoughts, and even less to express a desire for retaliation or revenge toward people, regardless of what that person has done. It can be good to think about what you yourself have been forgiven for, and that Jesus, the Son of God, has given His life as the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (1 John 2:2)

“Therefore, I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” Luke 7:47.

You cannot bring about anything good by means of evil!