How can Christians respond when the world glorifies evil and celebrates things that go against God’s goodness? Romans 12:21 offers a powerful answer: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” In a culture where dishonesty, selfishness, revenge, and spiritual darkness can seem increasingly common, believers are called to stand firm in their faith and reflect the light of Jesus Christ. Choosing goodness isn’t always popular or easy, especially when others respond with hostility or encourage you to compromise your values. But God can give you the courage and wisdom to make choices that honor Him, even when you stand apart from the crowd.

Highlights

• Explore what Romans 12:21 teaches about overcoming evil with good instead of allowing darkness to shape your actions.

• Discover how to reflect God’s goodness when the world celebrates dishonesty, selfishness, or spiritual darkness.

• Learn to respond to hurtful words with kindness, dishonesty with truth, and selfishness with generosity.

• Understand how everyday choices can demonstrate God’s love and bring hope to people who are struggling.

• Find encouragement to forgive others and break cycles of anger, resentment, and revenge.

• Discover how prayer and the Holy Spirit can strengthen you to resist harmful influences and remain faithful to God.

• Reflect on practical ways to choose goodness, protect your heart, and shine Christ’s light in your daily life.

Click to Listen to Signs of Life: UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org

Join us this Fall for Season One of "Signs of Life," an original podcast from UM News. The journey begins in Atlanta, hearing how a book from an icon of the Civil Rights movement is bringing relationship and understanding to two congregations seeking to bridge divides. Then to Belfast, learning about the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Methodist connection that was—and is—an essential part of healing and peacemaking. Finally, at the Global Young Peoples Convocation in Dublin, explore the world of translation and interpretation through diversity, language and culture.

UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org

Do you want to listen ad-free?

When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! 

Sign Up Today!

Full Transcript Below:

When the World Glorifies Darkness, Choose What Is Good 

By: Whitney Hopler

Bible Reading:
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” – Romans 12:21, NIV

While visiting an independent bookstore, I browsed the spirituality section and was disappointed to see lots of books about spiritual darkness and very few about God and the light of hope he shines into our fallen world. I considered just leaving without saying anything. But I felt like I should try to have a conversation with the woman at the front desk. So, I silently prayed for courage. Then, I told her that I had been looking for books on God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and other related topics. She rolled her eyes and suggested that I visit a Christian bookstore in the area. But I sensed that I should ask her some questions about the selections in the store. Why so many books about the dark side of the spiritual world, like the occult, but so few about God’s goodness? Why sell books about demons but not about holy angels? It turns out that she was the store owner and manager. Even though my questions and tone of voice were polite, an angry expression flashed across her face and she blurted out: “I just stock what sells the most. If you want something else, then go somewhere else.” After I nodded and walked out, I prayed for God to reach out to her and shine light into the darkness that surrounded her so she could see the value of what’s good.

In Romans 12:21, the Bible urges you to fight back against being overcome by evil and instead to overcome evil with good.

Physically, if a room is completely dark, you can drive away the darkness by turning on a light. Even a small flashlight or candle flame cuts right through the darkness. Spiritually, if people in this fallen world around you are glorifying evil, you can overcome that by making choices that reflect God’s goodness.

Choosing what’s good may be unpopular sometimes, but it’s always worth it. When you choose goodness even though others around you are choosing spiritual darkness, you welcome God’s power to flow through your life freely. God will empower you to make the good choices he leads you to make day by day. When someone speaks hurtful words to you, God will give you the strength you need to answer with kindness. When others tell lies to get ahead, God will help you tell the truth. When people around you are selfish, God will empower you to be generous. The more you seek God’s guidance for your decisions, the more God will give you the power to follow through with those decisions well.

Every day, you face choices. You choose how you treat your family, friends, coworkers, and strangers who are unkind. You choose what you watch, what you talk about, and how you respond when you’re treated unfairly. The world will too often tell you to put yourself first, hold grudges, and seek revenge when you’re hurt. But God calls you to be a light in this dark place.

You might think your good choices don’t matter very much in this world that’s full of other people glorifying evil. But never underestimate the power of a good action you do with love. Doing something kind for people can make them feel loved. Speaking honestly to people can bring hope that breaks through their confusion or suffering. Choosing to forgive people for their mistakes can break a cycle of anger that’s lasted for a long time. When you choose what’s good, you show the world what God’s love in action looks like.

So, don’t let the darkness around you change who you are on the inside. Pray for help from God’s Holy Spirit and stand strong in the Holy Spirit’s power as you make your decisions every day. As you choose what’s good, God will use your light to make a real and positive difference in the lives of those around you!

Intersecting Faith & Life:

As you consider how to choose what’s good even when the world around you is glorifying evil, reflect on these questions:

• Where in your daily life do you notice the world glorifying things that don’t please God?
• When have you felt tempted to respond to someone’s sinful choice by going along with it rather than speaking up against evil?
• What’s one act of goodness you can do today for someone who has been difficult or unkind to you?
• How does knowing that God gives you strength through the Holy Spirit change the way you view challenging situations?
• What are some simple habits you can set in your life to protect your mind and heart from dark influences?

Further Reading:

3 John 1:11

Deuteronomy 30:15

Psalm 34:14

Matthew 5:16

Amos 5:14-15