The heart of the matter

We know that we belong to God,
and the whole world is under the power of the Evil One. 1 John 4:18

This is the heart of the matter. Each of us who have responded "Yes" to the Divine One's offer of life and love truly belongs to the Divine One. At the same time and in important ways, we continue to live in "the world" which is dominated and ruled by the Evil One. Even though we believe in the final divinization of the world, the current coexistence of "the world" and "the Reign of God" does not compromise the reality and power of either. The fact that we belong to God does not change the reality of a world dominated by the Evil One.

And so the disturbing question arises again: What am I to do? I am to confront both realities within my own being. I am to do whatever I can--no matter how small--to take my stand for Jesus in the world dominated by the Evil One. This is especially important for those of us who are successful in the eyes of the world. We run the real risk of deluding ourselves and living in comfortable complicity with the Evil One even though we live "good, moral" lives of personal rectitude.

In many ways, the fundamental message of Jesus to me and others similarly situated in the world is disturbingly simple: Wake up!
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Location:Charissa Run,Rochester,United States