What kind of evil is this?

 

"These are tying times. Scary times. Just when you think that mankind can take that next step toward civil behavior towards each other, this happens. Pray for peace. Pray for the softening of harden hearts. Pray that God can change the worst of us, into the best of us."  

One of my favorite books which was made into a war movies, is The Thin Red Line. An excellent book, penned by author James Jones. One of the movies main characters, played by actor Jim Caviezel, started out in the movie by being AWOL on another Pacific Island, far from the war. As he was trying to make sense of what was happening in the Pacific war zone, his thoughts were very simple, yet profound. "What kind of evil is this? Where does it come from?"

I know war is never pretty. It has a habit of devolving into primitive and carnal butchery. That is exactly what is happening in parts of Ukraine right now. In fact, yesterday, just when we thought we had seen the worst of the worst, Russia targeted a maternity hospital. Three were killed, many wounded. I am trying to wrap my mind around this one. A maternity hospital. Where the most innocent among us are brought into the world. What kind of evil is this?

Hang on. This might get worse yet. On the news this morning, it seems we have picked up some intel which shows a much darker side coming. Bio weapons and chemical weapons. I guess there is no "red line" anymore, as to what kind of method you can use to kill your enemy. Sicken them with some bio crap which is ten times worse than Covid, or burn their lungs out with some chemical cocktail. A chemical cocktail which is so toxic, it can kill everything, down to bacteria. Again, what kind of evil is this? And where does it come from?

Finally, there is Putin's final solution. Tactical nukes. Are the Russians capable of unleashing that kind of poison on the world? I guess they are. Remember, they have shelled a nuclear plant. And might do it again. But this is the weird thing about hate - the kind of hate the Russians have towards the Ukrainians. Hate can blind someone so totally, that logic in actions all but disappears. Nuking Ukraine would not only taint the rich cropland in Ukraine, but also prevailing westerlies could carry the radiation fallout over the border, and into Russia. Or - Putin could do the the ultimate madman move. Launch what he has, at every target imaginable in NATO or the US. It would be the end of days. 

For those who know that God is the God of everything great and small, know this. God has commanded us to love one another. The question of "where does this kind of evil come from", comes from our fallen nature. It comes from the principalities of darkness. The Ruler of the air. This has allowed mankind to be at his worst.

These are tying times. Scary times. Just when you think that mankind can take that next step toward civil behavior towards each other, this happens. Pray for peace. Pray for the softening of harden hearts. Pray that God can change the worst of us, into the best of us.