The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1918-11-14
Plain Tales From The Bible
[continued from page two.l

t~Outiuuc0 Aho1u page tWOI
ali men reason but only very few continue
this meditation that would reveal the wond-
erful, helpful truths concerning good and
evil. We are wont to reason thus far and
then let our thoughts be lost in wondering
why Il is not Gods desire to command evil
from the earth, as He could with single
word. We need to realize that it is not the
destruction of evil that must be our first
concern but finding the reason for evils ex-
istence. This is the explanation we need
in order to attain the full measure of i'm
mortal life our Creator intended should be
ours.
There is an explanation-never doubt
that We cannot evade evil. We must
determine why is exists and in the light and
strength of our knowledge stand and give
battle against it. We know God is not the
author OF evil because from His love and
wisdom comes all that is good. But we
know, too, that He permits evil to exist; so
our problem, then, is: Why is it permitted
The answer is twofold. First, evil is per-
mitted that the riches of the Creators glory
and power may be known. Surely that is
reasonable. How else could His justice be
shown except in evils punishment How
else could His mercy be given except in its
forgiveness How else could His approval
and blessing be received and enjoyed except
by virtue of abstaining from evil?
Then, evil is permitted for the benefit of
humanity. 1t was an infinite wisdom that
let evil thrive amid the good in the Garden
of Eden. God wanted men and women of
will, decision, purpose-not an endless dup
LEGATION of puppets, mere helpless nonentities.
He would have been satisfied with the
crawling things; with the beasts, birds and
fishes if that had been His thought or the
height of His purpose and ambition.
1t was the magnitude of His plan for
those He made in His likeness that led Him
to permit evil to exhist. At first they were
to develop strength of character by being
satisfied without the fruit s'of the tree of
knowledge of good and evil" Then, when
they chose to follow the dictates of their
mortal desires He still permitted evil to
dwell on earth that they might, by resisting
and vanquishing it, attain that nobility of
mind and purity of heart needed to bring
the soul to the eternal life He planned for it.
So, evil should not scare or discourage us.
We need not, nay we should not, despair
because of evil We fall because of it but
as we'll it can raise US to any height. By as
much as evil loses influence in any life to
that degree is that ones character strength
eded; and it is ever our understanding of evil
that determines its influence in our lives.
This does not mean that we must 60 into
the world aud seek out evil and follow its
fatal and blighting purpose. Not at all.
Inherent in every human soul is a true
knowledge of what is good and what is evil;
add to this what we learn by study, obser-
walton and experience and we will find our
selves fortified against its every attack and
appeal.
As we apply and are guided by our
knowledge of evil and the purpose of its
existence we will be less and less influenced
by its power. At some point in our under
standing the contrast between good and evil
will be SO great and SO strong that evil will
lose its last bit of attraction and good will
have full sway in our lives. Then we will
know that it is not the abolition, the COM
plete destruction of evil, that is the end to-
ward which humanity should strive, for this
is impossible, but toward creating of charac-
ter and will in human beings strong enough
to withstand it.
Thus may Ewes eating of the fruit ''of
the tree of the knowledge of good and evil
become blessing instead of the curse it is
so universally considered. The crux of the
whole problem is to attune our hearts and
minds to good so that everything that has to
do with evil is rejected by them and our
souls delight is only in the good that God
gave humanity-for such soldiers of life
evil is a conquered thing and offers naught
but incentive to strive for the immortal
glories to which the soul of man is heir.