Evil on the Ascendancy

January 14

“All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."

This famous quote was from British statesman Edmund Burke, who was considered the most influential orator in the House of Commons. Edmund Burke stands out in history as a member of the British Parliament who defended the rights of the American colonies and who strongly opposed the slave trade.

We cannot but wonder if Burke had a crystal ball that enabled him to see into our age, for indeed, we live in a time when the words of the Apostle Paul wax true, “Evil men shall become worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived,” II Timothy 3:13.

We hardly know in whom or in what we may place our trust. Men resort to duplicity to gain professional advantage; people cheat on their spouses; governmental leaders are known for their duplicity and trickery rather than for their patriotism and integrity.

In a time of economic upheaval, hard-working tax payers are called upon to fund the exorbitant vacations and lavish parties of those who are supposed to be serving them. People in positions of power vote themselves extravagant salary increases when many of our citizenry are unemployed.

Rather than implement policies that have accomplished a needed economic turn-around in previous times of financial distress, the current crop who are at the helm resort to the ever-failed method of burdening the workers through increased taxation.

And there is no end in sight. Promises are made and promises are broken to voters who are disillusioned with betrayal in high places. But we who believe must not allow ourselves to be discouraged by what we see. Rather, we must realize that in the ‘last days these evil things will come to be.

As the impetuous apostle said in II Peter 2:1-3, “But there will be false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words…”

If we do nothing, the progression of this evil foretold by Burke will be exacerbated. If we resist it, perhaps we can abate its progress. Whatever happens, may we rest in the words of our Lord Jesus Christ which remind believers when we see evil on the ascendancy to, “Look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption draws near,” Luke 21:28.