The horrific recent videos of murders allegedly committed by the Islamic State In Iraq and Syria (ISIS) are deeply disturbing and provocative. They remind me of how very great is the potential for humans to willingly instigate and participate in great evil. As youngsters, the neighbors of these assailants surely could not have imagined them plunging into such reprobate behavior. Similar impressions are recorded by the contemporaries of Hitler, Mao, Stalin, and Ho Chi Minh. We do well to remain vigilant about humankind’s inherent potential for cruelty.
But where evil abounds so does opportunity for great compassion and acts of extraordinary kindness. My treasured friend, Lawand, a US-educated Kurdish attorney living in northern Iraqi, just departed his esteemed position to provide full-time aid to the thousand of refugees fleeing ISIS. Lawand is embodying the assurance documented in 1 Peter 1:4, “Jesus’ divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these Jesus has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” As we witness great evil, both near our homes and abroad, we do well to remain steadfast to overcome great evil with compelling goodness.