The Difference Between Good and Evil

The Difference Between Good and Evil

It is not as small as one usually thinks. Nevertheless, the difference is even greater by far than God-fearing souls think. It is not a little bit better to keep God’s laws than to break them; the difference is enormous. It is not only best to do God’s will, it is the only good thing. Everything else is terrible. Everything else is pure wretchedness!

We know a word from our childhood that demonstrates this tremendous difference: “For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.” Ex. 20:5-6.

When a person commits an act of iniquity—for example, he lies—he has to suffer the consequences first himself; then his children, their children, and their grandchildren. It costs more than one is aware of. It has greater consequences than we are aware of. If we thought about it, we would be more careful not to sin. When we keep His commandments (for example, by speaking the truth), we ourselves are blessed with peace, joy, and a good conscience among other things, and then this blessing will benefit our children and grandchildren. For that matter, God’s mercy will benefit the thousandth generation.

If we reckon that a generation is 30 years, then your descendants must suffer the consequences for about 100 years because you broke God’s law today. But if you keep His commandments, your descendants will derive the benefits for about 30,000 years—that is, all your descendants! Therefore in every temptation you have the choice between a curse for a 100 years and blessings for 30,000 years. These are truly not small values that are at risk!!! This gives us a true idea of the awesome difference between good and evil, between keeping God’s commandments or breaking them, between doing God’s will or doing our own. Believe the above-mentioned scripture! Think about it and live in it, and you will without a doubt make progress in the good!