Las Vegas Shooting: Pure Evil

By James Robison Published on October 4, 2017

The President was right on target when he referred to the murderous act in Las Vegas as “Pure Evil.” Satan is the author and instigator of all evil. He is the very personification of it. Even those who doubt or deny God cannot deny there is an obvious force of evil present in our world. Jesus said Satan is the father of all lies and, above all, a thief and murderer. He seeks to destroy life — every precious aspect of it. When he is in control, he continually manifests despicable, unimaginable acts defying all logic.

We’re right to abhor the unspeakable brutality and murder of the innocent — any time, anywhere. We don’t yet know whether the 64-year-old Vegas gunman was deranged or cruelly rational. But we do know his act was demonic. No, the devil didn’t make him do it. The murderer made a horrible choice by giving Satan control of his life and accomplished the enemy’s deadly purpose.

The Vulnerability to Evil

That’s what happens when your resistance and clear-mindedness have been compromised and diminished. Many things can harm our spiritual and mental condition. It might be addiction to alcohol or drugs, damaging emotions such as bitterness or envy, emotional or physical exhaustion. It can even be the result of self-intoxication, as with Herod at the time of Christ’s birth. He ordered the murder of all little boys under two years old in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16). Satanic? Yes. Demonic? Yes. Even so, it was Herod’s choice to act on his evil schemes.

In the fatherless home and the dysfunctional community I grew up in, you cannot imagine the suggestions other kids made to me, along with the fiery darts (damaging suggestions) Satan fired my way. I was vulnerable. But thanks be to God, praying Christians, a pastor and his wife who never forgot the boy they cared for the first few years of my life, and then the witness of committed Christian teenagers led me to Christ. I’m convinced that the prayers of others (even before my conversion to Christ) helped prevent me from giving into foolish and damaging impulses.

The Answer to Evil

Jesus is the answer. He was my answer, and He is the sole answer for those devastated by manifestations of evil. Only a great God and a loving heavenly Father can give the ultimate comfort wanted and needed by the people in Las Vegas and every victimized community. Caring neighbors, friends, and other Christians will seek to lighten their load and brighten their future. Jesus is the only way to overcome evil and the evil one. He alone can direct our steps and help us build wise, secure walls of protection.

God’s Word should be our hedge of security. He wants His Word to be written in our hearts, not just carried in a leather bound book. He wants His Word to carry and lead us. And, as Paul said, we can write letters in the hearts of other people’s lives by our consistent Christian testimony (2 Corinthians 3:2–3).

Believers must demonstrate the resurrection life He offers each day. Jesus came to overcome the evil one and to deliver us from that despicable, damaging influence. We live only because Christ was born, was crucified, rose from the dead, and His resurrected life can be revealed in us.

The Light in the Face of Evil

Thirty years ago when I experienced a marvelous deliverance from the power of demonic assault due to spiritual burnout and physical exhaustion, I was vulnerable. During the time following my deliverance, God clearly revealed that in the last days evil would wax worse. Satan’s nature will be more visibly manifested than at any time in history with unfathomable, despicable acts of evil.

But the converse of that is also true. The church (true Christians — fully devoted followers of Christ) will become more like Jesus than in any time in history. Until Satan is destroyed and evil demolished forever, believers must stand suited up in the whole armor of God, resisting evil on every front. We can be forever triumphant. We can snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, when we allow the love, hope, and peace of Christ to prevail.

As born again Christians, let’s join our hearts together praying for all who have experienced such great pain, suffering and the loss of precious family and friends. Let’s join Jesus diligently seeking to “bind up broken hearts” while standing against Satan’s evil intentions.

 

You can read inspiring, challenging messages like this in James Robison’s book THE STREAMpublished by Worthy Publishers.

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