In everyday life, it’s common to encounter situations where one person regards a certain behavior as good, while another person views the very same action as harmful or meaningless. The same deed can be praised in one community yet criticized in another. Even within the same society, different individuals may hold varying opinions. This variability prompts a fundamental question: What exactly are good and evil, and by what standard are they defined?
To understand this, let’s consider a simple example: Imagine you have a tool whose purpose isn’t immediately clear. One person thinks it’s perfectly suited as a flowerpot, saying, “This would make a great planter.” Another believes it’s a drinking cup, asserting, “It’s ideal for holding water.” Yet another sees it as a decorative object for a desk. Now, who is correct? In one sense, they all have reasons for their opinions. But if you truly want to know the tool’s real purpose, you’d turn to the factory that produced it. The manufacturer’s instructions and design intentions resolve all doubts. Once you consult the “user’s manual,” you understand precisely what the tool was made for, and personal opinions give way to a definitive purpose defined by its creator.
The human struggle to distinguish good from evil is essentially similar. If we rely solely on personal feelings, cultural norms, or individual reasoning, we end up with a variety of subjective opinions. What’s praised in one place might be condemned in another, leaving us with no fixed moral ground. How can we establish a universal, enduring standard for what is truly right or wrong?
If we accept the existence of a Creator—an all-knowing, all-seeing source of infinite wisdom—then it follows logically that this Creator would provide a reliable moral compass. After all, the One who gave humans their eyes, minds, hearts, and hands must know best how these gifts should be used. Thus, what we call “good” aligns with using these capabilities in harmony with their intended purpose, while “evil” arises when we misuse them in ways that contradict our created nature.
This is where divine guidance steps in, much like a manufacturer’s user manual. The Creator’s revelations and teachings clarify which behaviors align with the true purpose of creation and which lead us astray. Without this guidance, people would continue to define good and evil based on personal desires, cultural habits, or fleeting trends, never reaching a firm, universally accepted moral foundation.
The divine message, however, reveals the path to a meaningful life, illuminating the difference between right and wrong in a way that transcends individual opinions and biases.
In short, good and evil are not merely products of human thinking, emotions, or social consensus. They are defined by the One who brought both humanity and the universe into existence, who knows their true purpose and harmony. By recognizing this divine framework, people can break free from confusion and contradictions, living a life that fulfills their ultimate purpose and discovering lasting meaning and order in both their inner and outer worlds.
