House of Faith Ministries
THE SHADOW OF EVIL
Written by Pastor Marcos Marrero
Published 2015
This is a sampling of the free book called The Shadow of Evil. You can read the book for free here.
Introduction:
2 Timothy 1:9 "Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began."
Before time began means that before God created our universe, He not only had a purpose for creating it—which had been hidden from us—but within that purpose was also intricately hidden the mystery of grace, and both were destined to be revealed to us in Christ Jesus.
Romans 16:25 "Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret (hidden) since the world began."
I believe this mystery to be the revelation of the purpose behind the creation which is two-fold, God's purpose and grace. Now we who presently know God's mercy and have tasted of the sweet nectar of God's grace towards us, in the salvation that we now enjoy in Jesus, have also been given the privilege to know the hidden purpose behind the creation in which we now exist.
Romans 11:33 "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God (God's purpose and grace)! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!"
It is with confidence in the abilities given to us by the Holy Spirit through the power of His grace that works within us, that we now endeavor in searching out what God's real purpose was behind the creation of our universe, and how grace was the bulwark that sustained that purpose.
Daniel 2:22 "He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him."
I believe the key that unravels the mystery behind the purpose for the creation lies in understanding the meaning of darkness and its interaction with the light. We could also call it the struggle between good and evil. In either case, the true revelation of the mystery behind the creation can only bring glory to God and to Jesus Christ, who is the manifestation of God's grace, through whom also the abilities to reveal such secrets is given to us.
Daniel 2:47 "…'Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.'"