Saturday, October 15, 2011

The Man In Red

God is Sovereign

The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.” Job 1:7

Hollywood’s version of the devil has him dressed up in a red suit carrying a pitchfork. At Halloween, his character is always a favorite. But really, who is the devil and what is he up to?

Searching the scriptures, we learn that Satan is a fallen angel. He is the most powerful spirit that God created but his pride caused him to sin against God and be cast into darkness. Roaming the earth looking for opportunity, his purpose is to tempt us with the goal of destroying us – and often we do not recognize the path he has led us on until it is too late. He is very attractive and very clever. His deceitful ways cause many to stumble. But it is never too late because we know the ending of the story -- God defeats Satan and he is cast into the lake of fire for eternity. When we battle Satan and all his folly, we fight from a position of strength because we know God has already won the battle. If we choose to stand with God through Jesus, we will defeat Satan and his schemes in our personal lives as we fight from victory and not just for victory.

But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. Revelation 12:8-9

Because God is sovereign, with Christ we are victorious over Satan’s schemes.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Justice For All

God is Just

You are always righteous, O LORD, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? Jeremiah 12:1

Why is it that we all know someone who seems to prosper and yet doesn't deserve to? It doesn't seem fair to watch someone who is dishonest, disloyal, unkind or doesn't try hard succeed....While our society is set up to insure justice; we often wonder how our system can fail us and why God doesn't intervene? After all, God is sovereign isn't He?

The Bible tells us that no one is removed from judgement and that justice will ultimately prevail and yet inequity surrounds us. In 722 BC, God used the evil Assyrian nation to take over the Northern Kingdom of Israel and later God allowed the wicked Babylonians to capture the Southern Kingdom and destroy the beloved temple and city of Jerusalem. While the fall of Israel was considered a great injustice by God's "chosen people", we know that God has a just purpose and He continues with His plan until its completion.

Although it appears some prosper without reason and others experience difficulty undeservedly, God in His sovereignty will ultimately judge the earth and all who have lived. Nothing catches God by surprise or escapes Him and nothing can thwart His plans.

Say among the nations, "The Lord reigns." The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the people with equity. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth. Psalm 96:10-13

Then men will say, "Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth." Psalm 58:11


Because God is just, we find peace knowing through Christ all evil will ultimately be judged.