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by Georgie Márquez-André March 13, 2005
EVIL, n. Moral evil is any deviation of a moral agent from the rules of conduct prescribed to him by God, or by legitimate human authority; or it is any violation of the plain principles of justice and rectitude. CRIMINAL, n. A person who has committed an offense against public law; a violator of law, divine or human. More particularly, a person indicted or charged with a public offense, and one who is found guilty, by verdict, confession or proof. AUTHORITY, n. The power derived from opinion, respect or esteem; influence of character or office; credit; as the authority of age or example, which is submitted to or respected, in some measure, as a law, or rule of action. That which is claimed in justification or support of opinions and measures. VALOROUS, a. Brave; courageous; stout; intrepid; as a valorous knight. (Webster's 1828 Dictionary) We have witnessed some amazing examples of humanity... at its best and at its worst.
Brian Nichols, accused of rape, hurts one deputy and kills at least four people before calming surrendering to police.
In between these two extremes, violence and surrender, stands his encounter with a strong, godly woman. The man who defied authority, who did not respect uniforms or judicial robes, was brought down by a soft-spoken single mom.
Many will analyze this event and try to figure out what was it that enabled Ashley Smith to remain calm and in control during her captivity. First, as she herself has said, she made the choice of looking at this man as a human being, and not a label, "a murderer." Second, she knew who really was in control in her life... and it wasn't Nichols. She was a woman under authority... and she knew that her Lord was right there besides her. Finally, she understood that this event was not happenstance, coincidence, or accident, and chose to be present and take an active role.
So Smith talked to Nichols, person to person. And she talked to him about truth, and eternity, and values... she talked to him about God. And because she was willing, the Spirit in her was able to touch a man who was very, very lost. She was strong, and she was gentle, she was brave, and she was peaceful.
There is a Hebrew word that describes a person like her. It is my favorite Hebrew word: hayil. It is the word used to describe David's valiant men, and the wealthy Boaz in the Book of Ruth... but it is also the word used to describe the woman of purity and excellence in Proverbs 31, and Ruth, the brave, honorable Moabite. This is the witness we need to have before a fallen world... people, men and women, of hayil; men and women of "valour." The true feminine balanced by the true masculine.
In a world where evil seems to have an ever increasing role, be encouraged... greater is the Spirit in you than the darkness around you... and it is the power of God in the believer that will enable us all to not flinch, but to stand tall in the face of danger.
Have a blessed week.
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