René Maciel: In the face of evil

I lift up my eyes to the mountains––where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1-2)

There are times in our lives when evil shakes us and makes us uncomfortable. We become paralyzed by the thought of it invading our lives. René MacielLike Elijah, our natural instinct is to hide out, tremble at this trouble, this battle, and cry out for help. In many instances, like Lot, we decide to just blend in and stay out of the confrontation.

We become anxious when this evil tries to dominate our hearts and minds—“don’t be anxious.” We see giants in the way like the spies who went into the Promised Land, that land the Lord had prepared for them. Upon their return, they fearfully reported seeing giants, reported they were too strong and powerful, living inside fortified cities, adding, “that land and those people will devour us.” 

There have been many times we also have allowed evil and wickedness to devour us, consume us and swallow us up. We have let fear have its way into our hearts. Nations have been affected, lives have been lost, and we are running into our caves. 

How do we handle evil when it continues to advance and come so close to us? 

Deuteronomy 3:22 says, “Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you.” I truly believe he has, and he will continue to be Sovereign. He will watch over us when evil invades, and he will strengthen us to stand in the face of wickedness. He will be our comforter, our peace and our stronghold—our Savior! 

The battle is not ours. Yet we must prepare ourselves. We must be ready when those giants come. Where does our help come from? When I was a child, it was in the arms of my parents that I found refuge. Now, it comes from the Lord, the Creator of all things.

The ending of Psalm 121 says, “The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore.” Therefore, I will not be afraid of tomorrow, or the wickedness, or my enemies. The battle is the Lord’s. How will we as Texas Baptists represent Christ in the presence of evil? How will we bring his kingdom on earth as it is in heaven? 

Texas Baptists pray as the Scripture says, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

My help comes from the Lord!

René Maciel is president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and president of Baptist University of the Américas in San Antonio.