Simon Warrick currently serves as the Interim Pastor at Frankston Church of Christ. Over the course of his career, Simon has consistently held leadership roles, beginning in the corporate sector and later transitioning to church leadership.
More recently, he served as the CEO of Empart Australia, a Not-For-Profit organisation dedicated to fostering transformation in communities across Asia. Simon’s passion lies in seeing people and organisations realise their God-given potential.
Recently, Simon shared a special 5-minute sermon with us during Sunday Morning Together, highlighting how the problem of evil is making Christians feel like they’re under attack. Read Simon’s inspiring message below:
‘Evil seems to be prevailing in our world at the moment. Have you ever noticed that there seems to be more negative stuff happening at the moment, with all the destruction in the world? Truly, we’re in a season where darkness seems to reign.
There are 40.3 million people in modern-day slavery, wars between Russia and Ukraine, the devastation we see between Palestine and Israel, and sex trafficking at an all-time high. The ever-increasing attack on the family and the provocation of the woke mindset.
What previously was safe and normal is now considered outdated and at worst, evil. Christians feel under attack. What was a Christian nation is further becoming less and less a Christian nation, the nation that it once was.
As Christians, we can feel like we’re under attack and we need to fight. We must. Right now there are two kingdoms; the kingdom of good and the kingdom of evil. The kingdoms of heaven and hell.
Ephesians 6:12 says, for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of the dark world, and against the spiritual forces of every of evil in the heavenly realms.
But how do we fight? Some choose not to because they don’t care. But most people want right to prevail. For many, we just don’t know how, or we’re exhausted from trying.
I grew up in the 80s and I was a big fan of the WWF (World Wrestling Foundation) as a kid. I would watch these massive men fight each other. Good versus evil. Hulk Hogan versus Andre the Giant.
They’d be fighting each other, bouncing off the ropes. They’d be hitting each other, hit for hit for hit until one held the other down for the count. If it was a good guy, you were cheering. But if it was a bad guy I remember being left with this idea of just wait till next time, you’ll get yours.
As Christians, we feel like we’re in a similar battle. Darkness seems to be encroaching on every angle. We need to fight the enemy. We need to make sure that truth is known. What’s wrong needs to be righted.
The world seems to be going crazy. It feels like this blow for blow. I remember some time ago on social media, a Christian friend of mine was arguing with someone who wouldn’t have been a Christian, about the importance of Christian values.
There are battles, and as Christians, we do need to fight. Ephesians 6:12 tells us that. Knowing this, we often find ourselves praying against darkness. The darkness can at times capture more of our attention and energy than it deserves.
I wonder if we change the metaphor. If we change it from a wrestling match, blow for blow, to maybe flicking on a light switch. In in John 1:4-5, it says in Him was life. It’s talking about Jesus was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
John 8:12 says, When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
Matthew 5:14-16 says, You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on a stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your father in heaven.
Some years ago, I was driving through the South Australian outback and got diverted from the route that I was taking between Port Augusta and Whyalla. Because of this diversion, I was very close to running out of fuel and Whyalla was too far away for me to be able to fill up.
I remember driving in the darkness going, God, just get me to Whyalla, just get me to Whyalla. And then, in the distance, there were lights. As I approached more slowly, the lights grew brighter and my anxiety started reducing.
It wasn’t until I got to the Welcome to Whyalla sign that my car ran out of fuel. But the comfort and safety that the light brought was really significant. You know, what does light do? It brings comfort and safety. It helps with direction. It allows us to see; it attracts.
The most important thing is this light removes darkness. Darkness isn’t the opposite of light, it’s the absence of light. So when we fight for light, when we turn on that switch, darkness loses its power. Jesus said to his disciples, you are the light of the world.
Let us be the light to those around us. Let us serve them. Let us love them. Let us do whatever we need to do to show them that in the same way Jesus said, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your father in heaven.
That’s my prayer for you today. Lord Jesus, I pray for my friends today. Father, thank you for the words, you are the light of the world. I pray that when we feel challenged by the difficulties that the world is showing us, You will remind us that we can be Your light and give us opportunities to serve the needy and to love the lost so that we might shine Your light on Your behalf. In Your name, Amen.
