By Shane Kastler
Sometimes the amount of evil we see in life can be overwhelming. It is hard at times, to watch the news and not be discouraged. Wicked people doing wicked things is nothing new. And for everything we hear about, how many other things go unreported? You may be tempted to lose heart and assume that evil will prevail over good. But this would be a grave error. When it's all said and done, God wins and evil loses. Even if the evil people of the world don't realize this fact, it is a fact nonetheless.
The are several “Herods” recorded in the Bible. The one known as “Herod the Great” was one of the most evil men in human history. Reigning as a ruler in Judea during the days of Christ, Herod sought to murder Jesus shortly after his birth. After finding out Jesus had been born in Bethlehem, Herod issued an edict to have every boy in Bethlehem, two years old and younger, executed. Herod assumed this would include Jesus and that this potential threat to his throne would be destroyed. But Herod was wrong. Jesus lived, and eventually, Herod was destroyed.
The Bible tells us that Joseph was warned in a dream to take Jesus and Mary to Egypt to flee the wrath of Herod. And in due time, when Herod was no more, God again spoke to Joseph through a dream telling him to return to Israel. Herod's demise is recorded in Scripture with these simple words, “But when Herod died.” (Matthew 2:19) What the Bible doesn't record is how Herod died.
According to historians, Herod died of natural causes; but it was an extraordinarily painful and gruesome death. According to historians his symptoms included, “ intense itching, painful intestinal problems, breathlessness, convulsions in every limb, and gangrene of the genitalia.” This led one modern day medical researcher to conclude in a study that Herod likely died of a combination of kidney disease and gonorrhea. Regardless of the cause, Herod's death was ugly. And regardless of how much power he possessed in life, his eternal situation would be even uglier. God won. Herod lost. And so it will be for everyone.
While you may not have committed as many atrocious acts as Herod, you too are a sinner. The Bible teaches that we all are; and are thus all in need of God's grace. Through faith in Christ we can be forgiven of our sins and be granted eternal life. And though we still face physical death, we will not have to endure an eternal one. In the end, evil loses and God wins. Consider your eternal future today and plan your life in accordance with the facts before you. Trust in the Lord and enjoy the victory that only He can provide.
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