A Comeback in the Making!

I feel an epic comeback in the making.  The momentum is swinging back our way.  The opposition was so close to pulling off the biggest upset of all time.  But they got overconfident and started making careless mistakes.  Now they are getting nervous and desperate as they see their substantial lead slowly slipping away.

Thankfully we have been able to keep ourselves in the game by playing good defense.  Our rope-a-dope strategy is finally paying off as they continue to throw wild punches, wearing themselves out.  They are irritated that they haven’t been able to knock us out, and exhausted by our stamina in resisting their onslaught.

Our time is now! Let’s pull together, mount our comeback, and win this thing once and for all.

What is the Game?

It’s really not a game.  It is actually a war that has been waged since the beginning of time.  I’m talking about the ongoing battle between good and evil.  Yes, it’s most definitely a war, but I’d rather think of it as a game since it sounds less scary and more fun.

What is the Object of the Game?

To rule the world, of course.

What are the Rules?

It depends upon which team you are on. Team Good plays by a very specific set of God-given rules.  Team Evil enjoys the advantage of being bound by no rules whatsoever, anything goes, the ends justify the means, and the meaner the better.  There is absolutely nothing they won’t do to win.

Who is Playing?

Every single one of us, every person on this earth.

Who is Playing for Which Team?

Well, therein lies the biggest problem for Team Good, and the only reason Team Evil is still in the game.  Nearly all of us believe we are playing for Team Good, at least that is our intent.  There could be a few exceptions, but generally we all want to be good, right?  Seriously, why would anyone willingly choose to play for Team Evil?

But if we all desire to play for Team Good, how is it that Team Evil is winning so decisively nowadays?  If you don’t think evil is winning, just look around, do you see many people smiling nowadays?

What is Team Evil Doing to Win?

Evil employs a simple, yet brilliant three-pronged approach to winning.

First, evil takes advantage of the fact that human beings are endlessly flawed.  We all play for both teams.  Each and every one of us scores points for both Team Good and Team Evil on a daily basis.  No matter how hard we try not to score for evil, we all do nonetheless.  In our thoughts, in our words, in what we do, and in what we fail to do.

What I do, I do not understand. For I do not do what I want, but I do what I hate. Romans 7:15

If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being.  Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Secondly, evil confuses us about what is good and what is evil.  It provides reasoning that allows us all to justify ourselves as good no matter what.  It is all in how you define the terms.  In fact, even those who are widely regarded as the evilest people in history all probably believed themselves to be good.  They just thought that murdering millions of people was for the greater good, and therefore justified.

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!  Isaiah 5:20

Finally, evil is the master of deceit and lies, it’s best weapon.  Evil knows that even with common definitions of good and evil, it can prevail by fooling us into living in lies.

You belong to your father the devil and you willingly carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies.  John 8:44

“The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable.”  President James A. Garfield

So all we need to do in order to consistently score more points for Team Good is to know what is good and what is true, and to overcome our human weakness in order to do what is truly good. Simple, right?  If only…

What is Good?

God is good.  He gave us life, a few easy to understand rules, a conscious to guide us, talents to develop and put to use in service to others, and freewill to make our own choices.  In short, Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness are good.  Morality based on natural law is good.

Anything that is in alignment with what God gave us and expects from us is good. All else is evil.

By the way, I think it helps to think in terms of good versus evil, instead of good versus simply bad.  Bad is too easily forgiven, but we sure do not want to be considered evil.  And please forget the grey area nonsense, that type of thinking has led us to where we are.  Try shifting your mindset to good versus evil in everything you do and notice how quickly it improves your behavior.  No more evil cookies for me!

Actually, I think most people instinctively know good from evil, right from wrong.  We don’t always act accordingly, but our conscious lets us know by the way we are feeling about ourselves.  We can justify our evil actions intellectually, but deep down we know where we stand.

What is True?

Although God gave us a conscious as a right-or-wrong-o-meter, He did not provide us with a built-in lie detector as a defense mechanism against the father of lies.  But then again, we are conscious beings with the ability to uncover truth if we take the time to do so.

But thankfully, the lies of Team Evil have become so outrageous and obvious over the past couple of years that they have openly exposed themselves.  What lies?  Pretty much anything that is relentlessly put forth as truth with absolutely no dissent allowed.  If it’s true, why not allow debate and prove it beyond any doubt?  Because the lies are easily exposed and they cannot allow that to happen.

And by the way, why do they have to lie in order to get what they want?  If what they want is so good for us, shouldn’t they just be able to tell us the truth?  Just think about it, why do you lie?  To get something you want that you wouldn’t get otherwise, to get out of something you don’t want to do, and to not hurt someone’s feelings, right?  Oh sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings by implying you all lie.  No doubt it is a rare occurrence…

Who is They?

Those who create, tell, and sell the lies.  They are also those who believe and live in accordance with the lies.  The biggest lie is their definitions of good and evil.  They sell evil as good, and good as evil.  And they are really good at it.

It is troubling how many have been fooled into thinking they are fighting for good when they are in fact doing the exact opposite.  They have good intentions, but they are basing their actions on lies.  This makes me both sad and mad.  Sad that well-meaning people can be so easily deceived.  And mad that they so often remain willfully and stubbornly ignorant.

What Do They Want?

The power to control every single person on the planet.  To control everything we think, say, do, and don’t do.  Basically the opposite of what God gave us and wants for us.

What are They Going to Do to Get What They Want?

Anything and everything, no limits.  Remember, they have no moral compass.  They are evil.

What are We Going to Do to Beat Them?

Simple.  Do what God asks of us.  To be good and do good, in truth and with courage, and to encourage and help others to do the same.  At least that’s my interpretation of what loving God and neighbors entails. 

Why Will We Win?

Because we have God on our side.  By the way, isn’t it interesting how you can add an “o” to God and get good, and similarly add a “d” to evil and get devil?

If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

He has a plan.  It appears to me that the plan is to make evil overconfident by letting them win a whole lot of battles.  As difficult as this is to endure, it sure is a wakeup call to action.

As they come out of hiding and expose themselves for who they really are, it is easier for us to know exactly what and who we are fighting against.  Plus, the more ridiculous they look, the more people we win to our side.  In my experience this has been happening in droves lately and the momentum is heavily in our favor.

What Can We Do to Help Secure the Win?

1. Know what is good.
2. Know what is true.
3. Strive to be good in alignment with truth.
4. Endeavor to do good by developing our talents and using them in service to others.
5. Support others in their quest to be good and do good.
6. Be courageous.
7. Remember to have some fun along the way.

This is what I am trying to do anyway.

I have been publically quiet for the past year and a half while observing, researching, and reflecting about what is going on in the world, what is likely to happen next, and what we can all do to ensure that Team Good comes out on top once and for all.  Now seems like the right time to share my observations, conclusions, and suggested actions.  More to come soon and often.

Until then, please remember that Team Good wins in the end.  Our job is to help secure the win sooner rather than later.  We can do it by working on ourselves and by working together.  Now is our time to participate in an epic comeback!

Godspeed, Scott