THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL 8-13-26
From the beginning, humanity has been confronted with the difference between good and evil. In the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam and Eve everything they needed, but He also gave them a command. They were not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17). God was teaching them that there is a difference between knowing what is right and choosing what is right.
KNOWING GOOD AND EVIL
After Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, their eyes were opened, and they became aware of their nakedness (Genesis 3:6-7). Sin brought a new awareness into their lives. They now knew evil, not merely as something God had forbidden, but as something they had personally experienced.
There is nothing wrong with knowing that evil exists. The Bible repeatedly teaches us to recognize the difference between good and evil (Isaiah 5:20; Hebrews 5:14). The danger comes when we stop calling evil evil and begin calling it good. Our culture can change its opinions, but God’s standard does not change.
CHOOSING GOOD
Knowledge by itself is not enough. We can know what is right and still choose what is wrong. Adam and Eve knew God’s command, but they chose to disobey it. Knowledge without obedience can leave us with greater responsibility rather than greater righteousness (Luke 12:47-48).
God calls us to turn away from evil and pursue what is good. We are to hate what is evil and cling to what is good (Romans 12:9). The Christian life is not simply learning more about the Bible. It is allowing the truth of God’s Word to shape our choices, our attitudes, our relationships, and our lives.
WISDOM TO DISCERN
We live in a world where good and evil are often confused. What God calls sin may be celebrated, and what God calls righteousness may be mocked. That is why we need God’s Word. His truth teaches us to discern between right and wrong.
The writer of Hebrews says that mature believers have their senses trained to discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5:14). Notice the word trained. Discernment grows as we continually expose ourselves to God’s truth and practice obeying it.
The answer is not to become fascinated with evil. The answer is to become so familiar with God’s goodness that we recognize evil when we encounter it. Paul tells us to be wise concerning what is good and simple concerning evil (Romans 16:19).
We do not have to taste every evil thing to know that it is bitter. We do not have to walk into darkness to appreciate the light. God’s Word has already shown us the difference.
The knowledge of good and evil should lead us to a greater love for what is good, a greater hatred for what is evil, and a greater dependence upon the God who is perfectly good.
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PRAYER
Father, give me wisdom to recognize good and evil. Help me never to call evil good or good evil. Train my heart through Your Word so that I will love what You love, reject what You reject, and walk faithfully in Your truth. May my knowledge of good lead me to obedience, holiness, and a deeper relationship with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
BDD
