Abhorring Evil

Abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good. 

We must not only not do evil, but we must abhor that which is evil. We must hate sin with an utter and irreconcilable hatred, have an antipathy to it as the worst of evils, contrary to our new nature, and to our true interest - hating all the appearances of sin, even the garment spotted with the flesh, Matthew Henry, Acts to Revelation, Volume 6, page 375.

Visceral - a nervous system response or; relating to deep inward feelings rather than to the intellect

How is your reaction time, dear reader? 

Are you quick to sense and feel that which is good, and that which is of an evil nature? 

Detecting is a natural God given gift, and there is abundant evidence of this, when we observe infants and small children react to people, surroundings, animals, and objects. Animals too, give us clues, non-verbally, to what they do, and don't trust: or should I say, whom it is they will allow to come near, and who they prefer to keep at a distance. These are visceral reactions, rather than reactions of an intellectual nature. They can be trusted as a form of vetting. 

Inward feelings as first responders, give us insights. While an infant or child will react spontaneously and without guile, adults with their thoughts directing their actions, often override their gut feelings, putting them onto precarious paths that may lead to heartache and sorrow, further on down the road. Ignored instincts, disqualified foreknowledge, dismissed discernment, open a person to any and all kinds of mind, heart, and soul destruction. Even when we intellectually understand what is bad for us, and whose company injures our emotional, spiritual, psychological, and even physiological well-being, we can do ourselves an ill turn, by continuing to override with our choices, the thoughts that clearly indicate, to stop what we are doing, and refrain from doing those things with certain people!

All this to say, dear one, that we have two choices: abhor evil, or embrace it. 

If we travel to the top of this page, Matthew Henry alludes to the new nature. This new nature is given to those that are saved by the grace of God. The old nature loves sin and does not see it, hear it, touch it, feel it, or recognize it, as evil. The old nature seeks sinful activities and indulges them frequently, and is not repulsed by what is abhorrent to God. The old nature does not need too much convincing to do what is evil, and would not with the intellect, suggest there is any wrong doing at all. Lying, cheating, stealing, fornicating, gossiping, coveting, are all on the smorgasbord table to be feasted upon when discernment is dead, and evil is seen as good. 

Let us now look into the visceral reactions granted to those that have the new nature. There is this:

A desire to do good, and resist evil

Abhorrence of evil

Hatred for sin

Utter and irreconcilable hatred for sin

An antipathy to it as the worst of evils

A hatred for all appearances of sin

A hatred even for the spotting of our garments with sin

This is an inside out work, dear reader. The spirit of God resides in the new creature, and when this is the case, we simply cannot help but abhor evil, want to resist evil, hating sin and being utterly and completely disabled from reconciling with sin; having such a strong and irresistible repulsion and antipathy to sin as the worst of evils, that every fibre of our being wants to run from it, or vomit when it comes near. 

Those that love the Lord cannot, nor will we, willfully commit evil, or expose ourselves to it, or, suffer it without saying a word to contradict and counteract what we witness. Jesus spoke words of life and death. To those that had eyes open to his Kingship, his words were welcome balm for the soul: to those that hated him and wanted to kill the Lord of glory, his words were nails on a chalk board, and all they could think to do was harm to the point of murder. The old and new nature, are evident and observable in humanity, aren't they dear one?

I ask you these questions:

Do you abhor evil and cleave to good? 

Do you have a sincere affection for, and constant perseverance in, that which is good?

Acts 11:21-24:

And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord

It is in our best interest, and true interest, to cleave unto the Lord, abhor evil, and resist sin at all costs. 

What, dear one, must you do, to rid yourself of soul sucking, death inducing, abhorrent sin, that in its vileness, opens you to evil? 

Holiness is an inside out work of grace. Cleave unto the Lord, and he will show you the Way. 

Pslam 104:33

I will sing to the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being