Light Vs Darkness

Romans 12:21

“Don’t allow yourself to be overpowered with evil. Take the offensive—overpower evil by good!” J.B. Phillips Translation

“Be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good.” KJV

This is the last verse in the chapter in Romans that describes the traits of a transformed individual. A Person who has given up control and let the Holy Spirit take control and transform them into a reflection of Christ.

In the Book of Matthew chapter 5 verses 13-16, it tells us that we are to be the Salt and the Light of the World. The purpose of having these two traits is to bring Glory to God in Heaven.

What does Salt and Light have to do with this verse in Romans? It describes the exact same thing.  Salt is not overcome by other flavors in food. It only brings out the best qualities of the other flavors.  Light cannot be overcome by darkness. Darkness never overwhelms light. You must shut the light off to see darkness. The minute the sun shows up the darkness of the night vanishes. The Second the Son of God shows up Evil vanishes. 

You do not need to fear being overcome with evil if you are being the Salt and Light of the World. The Word does warn you that you can lose the saltiness and light by not letting the Holy Spirt live within you.

Refusing to let the transformation into every aspect of your life will eventually let the darkness return and take more control of you.

Remember the parable about the person that cleaned all the rooms of the house. He swept and mopped them clean.  The rooms Sparkled. He was living a good life, going to church every Sabbath, doing the right things.  Yet we are told that when the evil spirit checked in on him if found the rooms empty and then the evil spirit went and found more, and mightier evil spirits and they all moved in. The person did not fill the rooms (his heart) with the Holy Spirit and thus was overcome by evil.

The benefits that comes from allowing the Holy Spirit to transform you is not to bring you praise, but to bring others to praise God by seeing what you have allowed the Holy Spirit to do in your life.

Prayers for all.

Larry