Yukon Territory, Alaska
“I have said these things to you to keep you from stumbling.
They will put you out of the synagogues.
Indeed, an hour is coming when those who kill you will think
that by doing so they are offering worship to God.”
There is an apocryphal, popular among preachers, that told of how Satan was devising a way to convince people to do evil. He tried tempting people with wealth, power, and fame. And it was rather effective. But Satan, being Satan, was happy with the results. he wanted to see everyone going to hell. And some thought, he told his minions, the devils, to go forth and tell people that he did not exist. And they did.
And it seems to be working. People do not believe in evil anymore. One only has to look around and see what moves the world these days: fear, anxiety, anger, greed, hate, violence, vengeance, lies, falsehoods. There were things people were afraid or not willing to do because they were evil. Today, even supposedly respectable people do things that are patently evil, like waging wars, killing innocents, taking advantage of the weak and defenseless, exploiting the poor and the vulnerable. And they all can justify these actions.
Often, I get the feeling that the voice and inspiration of the Spirit, whom Christ promised to send to teach us, is getting drowned out by the Evil One. By their fruits, you shall know them. And the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Christ did warn us of these times. And he admonished us that this evil spirit can be driven away only by prayers and fasting.