Conquer Evil

“Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭21‬ ‭

Conquer, defeat, overcome – Lexicon :: Strong’s G3528 – nikaō – to deprive it of power to harm, to subvert its influence, is used of one who by Christian constancy and courage keeps himself unharmed and spotless from his adversary’s devices, solicitations, assaults: the devil, and false teachers by the force which resides in goodness, i. e. in kindness, to cause an enemy to repent of the wrong he has done one, to be disturbed by an injury and driven to avenge it,

I love the definition above that defeat, conquer, and overcome don’t all just mean being unharmed by evil, but also that in responding in goodness it will cause the enemy to repent. This takes things to a whole other level. I picture such an outpouring of goodness to those who do us evil that they not only stop the evil, but they are on their knees, their life forever transformed by the love and goodness of God that was allowed to flow through us. In doing this, we deprive evil of its power.

Imagine what a different world we would live in if we really addressed the evil in this world with God’s goodness. I am not just talking about doing good to a coworker who does me wrong, but at every level. What could happen if goodness met abortion clinic doctor? Or if goodness met the drug dealer or manufacturer – you know the one who got your loved one addicted. Or if goodness met the child molester down the street or the murderer? What if whatever evil we see in this world was met with the same goodness God gave us when He saved us and that He has given us every day since then? What transformation might happen if we stood on the promise of this Scripture instead of screaming how bad they are and demanding justice?

I think about the amazing testimonies of murderers whose victim’s family have met them not only to offer forgiveness but to testify at parole hearings, the transformation that occurs for the people involved on both sides. I don’t know if I could get there, but that is the goodness of God that I believe overcomes evil. It is the power of God that strips evil of its power and shines a light on God’s love. It is exactly what Joseph gave to his brothers. It is what Jesus and Stephen publicly declared at their death. We know Paul, who was there when Stephen offered the goodness of forgiveness to those stoning him was transformed later when he encountered God on the road to Damascus. The transformation of Saul to Paul has had a ripple effect that still is impacting people today.

Lord, teach me how to overcome evil with Your goodness. Help me when faced with evil to step back and remember the goodness that You met me with and the forgiveness that You provided that transformed my life. Allow the fruit of goodness to be produced in my life for greater is He that is in me than the evil that is in the world.