There can be no joy without sorrow.
No hope without despair.
No peace without turbulence.
No comfort without pain.
No faith without doubt.
No courage without fear.
No love without loneliness.
No salvation without sin.
No deliverance without bondage.
No strength without weakness.
No miracle without a need.
No victory without a battle.
No mercy without a fault.
No forgiveness without guilt.
No freedom without choice.
No evil without good.
No life without death.
No devil without God.
God has contrasted the values of good and evil so man, His creation, can see and recognize the difference. When man perceives this difference, the knowledge of this difference contrasts in such a way as to maximize his appreciation.
God has contrasted the realm of the flesh with the realm of the Spirit so that man can see what true life is. When he sees the darkness and death of the flesh and becomes born of the Spirit, he can then realize (real eyes) the true life and light of the Spirit of God.
God has embodied all the anti-God characteristics in the nature of Satan that man might see the contrast and know good from evil (God from Satan)!
The flesh and this world is Satan’s realm. That is why there is so much trouble and turmoil in the heart of the unbeliever. The Spirit is the Kingdom of God. That’s why there is righteousness, peace and joy in the heart of the believer.
Through the new birth of Spiritual Life, man is born out of the kingdom of Satan and translated into the Kingdom of God (God’s realm). See Col. 1:13.
Without the contrast of the knowledge of good and evil there would be no appreciation and without appreciation there could be no joy.
Jesus said, “These things I have spoken in the world that you might have my joy and that your joy might be full.” He has divided good from evil with the power of His Word. The prince of this world has been judged. The way is so plain and simple that a child would not err therein.
Aren’t you glad you can know the difference between good and evil?
The greater the trial-- the greater the victory.
The greater the sorrow--the greater the joy.
The greater the bondage--the greater the freedom.
The greater the contrast--the greater the appreciation.
No wonder Romans 8:28 says that all things work together for the good of those who love God and are the called according to His purpose. And, because we do love God, that includes you and it includes me!
Warren D. Rogers