“But the Lord is faithful. He will
establish you and guard you against the evil one.”
(2 Thessalonians 3:3 ESV)
It’s clear to us,
as we look at the world of today, that evil has grown. It’s clear to us that
evil has become worse. We see it in world events as well as in the actions of
individuals.
We see this also as
we look over the course of time. What was once unthinkable has now become
common. What was once absurd has now become very real and ordinary.
As we’re confronted
with this evil, we wonder what can be done about it. We wonder where we can
look for help. And we look to many individuals and institutions to provide that
help.
We look to our
legislators. We do so, believing they can create laws that will eliminate the
evil with which we live. We look to the courts. We do so, believing that they
can change the moral compass of our nation. We look to the military. We do so, believing
that their might can not only hold evil at bay, but put an end to it in the
places it is sent. We look to our schools and universities. We do so, believing
that if only a better education is granted to more people, they will leave
their evil thoughts and actions behind. And we look to psychologists,
counselors, and health professionals. We do so, believing that the source of evil
is nothing more than an illness or a disease to be treated.
In the prior two verses,
Paul asked for prayer from the people. He asked for prayer that he and his
companions might be delivered from evil, or from the evil one. “For not all
have faith,” he reminds them. But,
as he goes on to state in the verse seen above, “the Lord is faithful.”
The Lord, he says,
will establish them and guard them against the evil one. He will strengthen and
protect them from the evil one. He will establish them and keep them from evil.
Although it’s a
simple reminder, what is the source of our help? What is the source of our
deliverance? That source is none other than the Lord.
Certainly, he can
work through people and institutions to carry out his work. He can use legislators
and the courts. He can use armies and military might. He can use the education
system and health professionals. But we must bear in mind that he alone is the
source of our aid.
We, then, must look
to him. This, after all, is what Jesus taught us to do. He taught us to pray to
the Father that he might deliver us from evil. He taught us to pray to the
Father that he might deliver us from the evil one.
And, no matter how
it may seem, we can know and believe that he will do just that. He will do so
because he is faithful. He will do so because is both willing and able to guard
us.
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