The Timeless Antidote for Evil

“Evil may so shape events that Caesar will occupy a palace and Christ a cross, but that same Christ will rise up and split history into AD and BC, so that even the life of Caesar must be dated by His name. Yes, the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.�� Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Gospel Messenger Periodical 1958 (The famous ‘arc of the moral universe’ quote was used from a sermon by Abolitionist, Theodore Parker circa 1853)

“Justice”, as a concept, has both Divine standards as well as earthly standards much like wisdom, as described in James 3:15-17. We must not be confused by these divergent concepts. When we confuse them we can become ‘confused’, even conflicted. We must understand that God’s justice does not end the presence of evil but does serve as an antidote for evil.

Indeed, most Western nations, derive their concept of justice from The Ten Commandments and Mosaic Law. Over time these concepts were adapted into Common Law. Our Constitution and legal codes embody God's standard of justice as previously established in Common Law. Man’s justice, however, is a different standard that has, for example, legalized the killing of unborn children in their mother’s womb.

Sometimes called fairness, man’s justice is often based in the concept of “moral evolvement” meaning agreement with what is thought to be currently fair, just, or acceptable. We should remember that the term genocide had to be invented (first used 1944) to describe the horrors of man’s conduct just 75 years ago.

As Christians, we should find great solace in the fact that we live “In The Year of Our Lord (Anno Domini) 2018”! Every time we simply write or say a particular date we split all of human history and, in fact, put both Caesar and Christ in the proper perspective! Secular attempts to remove Christ from history by substituting BCE and CE for BC and AD do not change the historical fact of Caesar nor of Jesus.

We live in a very dangerous world where evil continues to “shape events”. As in the time of Caesar, evil is manifesting itself in a variety of venues through the actions of individuals, groups, and nations. Predictably, tomorrow’s news will likely add more horror to the historical record of evil’s influence.

Isaiah 28:16-17a gives us, not only the antidote, but the timeless remedy for evil in basic architectural terms like cornerstones, measuring lines, and plumb lines. We should pause and consider the greatness of the obvious…and then proceed with dispatch to ensure that our lives, our communities, and our nation are built on this one “sure foundation”. Christ, who once occupied a cross, now occupies The Throne.

As I read the above text from Isaiah (NIV) I believe there is great encouragement for us all, Anno Domini 2018. We really have been provided with a sure foundation on which to build our lives, our culture, and our nation. This precious and tested cornerstone is none other than Christ who split history in two distinct parts. The text reads in part, “The one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic”. Wow!

Lastly, I think of justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line and I see the vertical and horizontal “crosshairs” formed like in a rifle telescopic scope. The intersection of these vertical and horizontal precepts gives a ‘target objective’ of the only true antidote and remedy for evil. Our vertical relationships with God, establishing righteousness as the plumb line, will enable our horizontal relationships with our fellow man, establishing justice as measuring line. Amos 5:24…Psalm 36:6

Righteousness exalts a nation!!!

Barney Barnes. Warrior Spirit Ministries, 01-20-18