Kingdoms in Conflict

By James Robison Published on December 6, 2015

JAMES ROBISON — Charles Roberts was not an evil person, the Reverend Robert Schenck told CNN. Roberts reportedly dreamed of molesting young children, but instead he walked into an Amish school room, bound and shot little girls execution-style, then turned the gun on himself. Anyone doubting evil exists must acknowledge that for those few hellish moments, it manifested itself in that one-room Pennsylvania school.

Marie Roberts, Charles’s widow, released the following statement:

The man that did this today was not the Charlie I’ve been married to for almost ten years. My husband was loving, supportive and thoughtful. … He was an exceptional father. He took the kids to soccer practice and games, played ball in the backyard, and took our seven-year-old daughter shopping.

According to the person who knew him best, Charlie sounded normal. Despite the last hour of his life, this man does not appear to have been a monster. He seemed to spend his life changing diapers and playing with his kids, not plotting malevolent acts.

There is a conflict here. Something doesn’t add up. How can a seemingly normal man commit such hideous acts? Is mankind so depraved that we are all capable of the worst atrocities? Do we all live on the verge of a physical or psychological imbalance that could, without warning, thrust us into a Jekyll-and-Hyde rage?

The evidence recorded in humanity’s catalog of crimes suggests a universal struggle between darkness and light — two kingdoms warring for the souls of men. We see the manifestation of these two kingdoms in the news every day. The media tends to focus on the darkness: suicide bombers in the Middle East, genocide in Sudan, a bomb-building dictator in North Korea, and a rash of school shootings in the United States. The kingdom of light gets less attention, but every testimony gives us hope: a firefighter rescuing a child, a scientist conquering a disease, and a missionary delivering food to starving people.

The kingdoms of light and darkness clash in a conflict over the souls of men. Whether we realize it or not, decisions we make daily further the cause of one kingdom or the other. Bob Dylan summed it up when he sang, “It may be the devil or it may be the Lord, but you’re gonna have to serve somebody.”

The influence of the invisible realm on the visible is undeniable. A battle rages both within the human heart and in the outworking of our hearts in relationship to one another. In families and communities and between nations, good and evil wrestle for victory.

Those of us in the kingdom of light must understand that this spiritual battle with evil forces can only be fought with spiritual weapons. The virtues of love, compassion, courage, strength of character, and harmony of heart overcome the kingdom of darkness. These values must reign in our personal lives in order to advance the kingdom of light.

Too many people live on the edge of darkness, even those who appear to be average. Normal fathers, mothers, and children could be a few bad decisions away from becoming the next Charles Roberts. Our only hope is to turn to Jesus, the One who said, “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12) We need His supernatural strength to win this fight.

Good will ultimately triumph over evil, but meanwhile each of us must commit ourselves to the positive influence and power found only in the kingdom of light.

Read John 3:16-21.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, You are a mighty warrior. Your compelling light conquers every evil force of darkness. The battle between good and evil, between You and Satan, that persists in the spiritual realm around me every moment seems daunting. Everywhere I turn, there seems to be more evidence of darkness than of light. And yet I know that You are the ultimate conqueror. I want to fight alongside You because I know You will win. Arm me with the virtues of love, compassion, courage, and character so that I can contend for the kingdom of light. Remove any discouragement or doubt from my mind when I see darkness manifest before me. Help me to respond with the light I have from You.

Adapted from the Book, The Soul of a Nation: 30 days, 30 issues, 30 prayers, by James Robison. (Thos. Nelson, 2008)

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