Bad Seed

In 1956, a movie came out that was supposedly very shocking. A sweet looking 8 year old girl who killed people. In the end, lightning gets her. This idea was so new and terrible that the makers added a disclaimer at the end, we were only kidding.

They were afraid to present the idea that some people are just born bad. The problem with bad people is bad environment. But to those who read the Bible, the theme was not new or shocking.

But for those who are convinced that environment is the cause of bad behavior, let us imagine a perfect environment. Remember the commedian who said, "The devil made me do it." So let's take him out of the picture.

Others claim that given enough time, people can be reformed. So let's give them 1,000 years. Some say we need the influence of government to reach our true potential. For them we offer Christ in control, with resurrected David as regent. This time there will be no Bathsheba temptation.

Let's review our list: perfect environment, no devil, 1,000 years to reform, Christ ruling, and David as his regent. Sounds perfect doesn't it? This should settle the argument over environment as the cause of evil.

Of course, we are describing the millennium, and it is not at all imaginary, just future. It hasn't occurred yet. Let's look with the eyes of prophecy and see how it all turns out: When the thousand years are over.

Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth- and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. Revelation 20:7-9, NIV

We see that our ideal world has not made goats into sheep after all, and tares have not become wheat.