Free Choice...

But to us here on Earth, Evil is the path of self, of ego, of separation from the rest of Creation, a separateness leading us into exploitation and conflict in our relationships with one another, and the abuse of the planet and the animal kingdom which we consider to exist purely for our personal exploitation and gratification.
In contrast, the path of Good is found in placing the self not above, nor below others, but among them, respecting them as we would have them respect us. And this applies equally to all life-forms. The worm's life may be unimportant to you, just as your life is incomprehensible to the worm; but the worm's life is important to the worm, just as yours is to you. From this basis of equality we can then develop the concept of service to others, graduating ultimately to the radiation of unconditional love which is the mark of Higher Beings.
Good and Evil are very real to us here on Earth, and must remain so. Thus we need to maintain a difficult "balancing act".
On the one hand we must strive to comprehend and remain constantly aware of the ultimate objectives for which we must aim: namely the Universal Laws of Right Conduct and Highest Wisdom. As we do so we attempt to avoid and reject the opposites of self-centeredness and ego-motivated aggression.
On the other hand as we inevitably "fall" into wrong thought and wrong actions we can at least learn from them by making ourselves fully aware of their effects upon ourselves and other life-forms around us, and ultimately rejecting them in full understanding. In this way we are enriched by the experience of "evil" and its consequences.
Throughout the journey of evolution we are faced with choices. Indeed without free choice the very concept of evolution could not come into being. We cannot become individuals following the path of Highest Wisdom through personal conscious choice until we have experienced the alternatives and their effects. Free choice allows the individual to choose between the path of Highest Wisdom and the path of Self, then having done so, to experience to the full the consequences of each decision.
Many of the great masters, teachers, and occult traditions confirm that here on Planet Earth free choice is put to its greatest test under the most difficult conditions.
When you come to look at the Earth and, in particular, at the actions of Humanity on its surface, here you witness only disorder. Why should this be so? It is because Humanity has been given the divine gift of free choice and so can create the nature of its own world. Obviously, this must fall within the evolutionary cycle and the destiny of the God or Lord of this solar system; but within those broad restrictions Humanity can choose the nature of its evolutionary path.