"This, the Hint"

" And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou bearest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him." (John 3:26 KJV)

  "And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (2 Timothy 4:18 KJV)

  For what it's worth, where they were and who actually baptized who, none of that was really what matters; the matter was about the point of repentance, which is the action of change in a persons life. There had not been any cleansing of sins, because Jesus was not yet crucified; so the whole point of purification was not even part of the story; it was just what the Jews had made issue of because of the act of baptizing that was taking place, and that their practice was being challenged. 

  Jesus was showing respect and authority to John's work, while John was still working and doing what he was ordained to do; so it really wasn't a matter of Him taking over; which is John's the writer's note about him not yet in prison, because his ministry would soon be over; so to speak. In reality, nothing that God starts is ever really over! It will live on and on for ever more!

  This is Paul's point to his final message, as he declares that the Lord would deliver him from evil work, even though he knew that he was about to be executed. The work of Paul ministry goes on and on, even to this day! The evil work Paul was talking about was that which might stop good from coming through the death he was about to face. As Paul himself clearly states, "For we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

  Hence, the two sides, evil and good, are the contrast of what we must be focused upon. On one side that which is evil, while the other, that which is good: Good will always win over evil, as GOD is GOOD! I hope we can try and learn to understand what that means, because there are so many evil things happening all around us, it is really hard to look for and anticipate the good! 

  Basically that is the springboard to what I believe we must take from John, the Writer's reason for this portion of his writings. In this is the workings of those, "All things that work together for good," even those things which might appear to be evil, because GOD makes all things GOOD! I know it seems like I might be a little off my rocker; but it will all make sense to everyone, once we are in Heaven.

  If you need a little nudge to get you to see things a little different, there is a quote from these three young Jewish guys, in the face of evil; which face, they did not even give any power to...

"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." (Daniel 3:16-18 KJV)