Carrying Darkness

It's said that when a soldier has seen death they carry a piece of that death with them for the rest of their lives. Some no longer fear it, others become jaded to the death of others, and still others push the limits of their own lives because they know that our lives are precious. Having this in mind I started to wonder if someone sees the darkness and evil in this world if they carry a little of that darkness with them.

Why ask this question? As I walk through this world I have met, in recent years, those that serve the Lord above but are not all rainbows and roses about it. What I mean to say is that a majority of Christians see the world through brighter glasses. The world is a place that God made and the sun is brighter, the sky is bluer, and the grass is greener because God is with them. I have zero problems with these people and in fact wish I could be one of them. But unfortunately I am one of the few that see the hurt in the world, the destitution, and the evil. Am I jaded or is this a gift from our Holy Savior? If you are like me then I want to tell you that it is not wrong to see the evil in the world. Jesus saw the evil in the world, read the account below from Mark 5.

They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!" For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!"

Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?"

"My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many." And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them." He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

Seeing the evil in the world makes you alert. Like the soldiers that have seen death. You know the value of good, you know the value of God! You know that God is the only true thing in this world and you hold on to Him with all you've got. To all of those out there that sit with you're Christian friends and feel completely out of place, know that there are more of us out here. Keep fighting the good fight and keep the faith. May God bless you and keep you, may His face shine upon you and be gracious to you, May His face turn toward you and give you peace.