Turn Evil To Live – Live To Love

By Julie Cosgrove

The English language can be amazing. Take for example the words  EVIL and LIVE and VILE. They all have the same letters, yet such different  meanings. What if each letter stood for another word?  Could there be a message in that?

E – everyone
V- vessel
I- instinct
L- live/life

E-V-I-L.  Everyone becomes a vessel to be used, instinctively so you can live. This breeds greed, envy, jealousy, lust, anger and pride. Evil is selfish, it turns inward and only thinks of self. It has no regard for others.

V-I-L-E. Being vile is to grasp tightly the vessel to instinctively live in spite of everyone else. Being vile corrupts our lives. The vessel becomes a holder for evil, making it tainted and distorted.

L-I-V-E.  Puts life over instinct so you become a vessel for everyone. You put others’ wellbeing first over your own needs. Mothers bring life to their children from their own bodies. They have given a part of themselves biologically and will emotionally as long as that child lives.

“I want them to turn from their evil ways and Live…” Ezekiel 18:23

Mothers almost instinctually put their children’s needs over their own. You see that in nature all the time. Mothers protect their young. You could say they put a V-E-I-L around them by becoming the vessel to everyone in their family so each can instinctively live (another twist of the letters).

Now replace the Instinct  “I” with Offering “O” and you have LOVE.   As humans it is instinctual that we do what we can to survive. Christ, instead became an Offering and gave his life for us.  He asks us to do the same. To Live as an Offering Vessel for Everyone is the command for every follower of Christ.  The irony? In doing so, we get life back- eternal life wrapped in the veil of God’s mercy where evil and vile things have no place.

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

Lord, Renew in me daily the desire to be an offering to You so I can be used to help others. Fill me with your eternal love so I can fight off my human nature, my instincts to be selfish, angry, envious, or prideful. Let me be Your Vessel – fill me with love for everyone you put in my path.
I pray this through Your Son who is my example, my Saviour and my life.  Amen.