Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore, I hate every false way…Therefore, all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way. Psalm 119:104, 128
In nature, there are many examples of substances, forces, elements, states, etc. which cannot coexist. For instance, when fluorine gas and liquid water touch, the fluorine will violently rip the hydrogen and oxygen apart. This produces combustion and the creation of toxic hydrofluoric acid. Another example is known as electromagnetic repulsion or the touch barrier which makes it impossible for two physical objects to occupy the same space at the same time. Likewise, no molecule of air can vibrate at two entirely different frequencies at the same time. And of course, the most popular may be the futility of attempting to force two like magnetic poles together because the magnetic field lines have a strict, unchangeable direction.
This last example well illustrates the principle from our passages from Psalm 119 today. Despite the best efforts of modern religious thinkers, we cannot simultaneously embrace good and evil in our lives. As the psalmist plainly stated, when he embraced the righteous precepts of God, the ways of evil were forced out. This is the consistent pattern set forth throughout the Bible.
In his contrast of the works of the flesh and the fruits of the spirit in Galatians 5:16-26, Paul stated that, “…the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other to keep you from doing the things you want to do” (5:17; ESV). This mirrors his description of the war within in Romans 7 and the incompatibility of having minds set on the things of the flesh and the spirit simultaneously (Romans 8:5-7). Peter warned his readers against the passions/desires/lusts of the flesh which war against the soul (1 Peter 2:11). Notice his only solution to the problem was abstinence from such desires.
Like magnetic fields, good and evil move in irreversible directions that, when we attempt to put them together cannot help repelling one another. This does not mean we cannot force them together briefly in ourselves, but to do so creates hypocrisy, double-mindedness, spiritual and mental instability, etc. which will ultimately destroy our souls (James 1:8; 1 John 1:5-6).
Another way the magnetic analogy illustrates spiritual realities has to do with the alignment of their microscopic electron spins which must align in the exact same direction, or else the magnetism weakens and eventually breaks. Jesus did not mince words about the absurdity of trying to serve two masters in Mattew 6:24. He went so far as to say that loving one implied hating the other.
With all this in mind, we know we must choose our master, and we can only choose one. Though we may try and force good and evil to coexist in ourselves, one will ultimately drive out the other. So, as the psalmist, may we fully embrace His righteous precepts, hating every false way. As Paul put it, may we abhor what is evil and hold fast what is good (Romans 12:9).