…who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father…
Thoughts for Today:In Matthew 4:8-11, Jesus was tempted by Satan: “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’” Have you ever wondered how Satan could tempt Jesus with something He already owned? The answer of course is because He didn’t own it any longer. The chain of title to the earth dates back to the Garden of Eden, when God gave the title deed to Adam and Eve. They promptly surrendered it to the Serpent when they chose to follow him rather than obey God. The rest is history, so to speak.
I always get a little concerned whenever a person asks, “How can God do this to me?” Blaming God for something that’s happened only reveals a general ignorance of world history. The reason things on earth are so messed up is because when humanity rejected God, Satan was given control of the world and its systems. Sin and rebelliousness remain the main problems to this day. And the consequences have been horrific.
Although it is true that God placed boundaries and limitations upon Satan, as we draw ever closer to the end of this age, things will grow more and more bizarre. Aberrant behavior will seem normal. So what’s the Good News in all of this? Jesus died for our sin in order “to rescue us from the present evil age.” And if we've placed our faith in Christ -- we’re going to heaven. That’s the real reason to rejoice regardless of our present discomfort.
Questions to Ponder:Do you have the joy that comes from a faithful knowledge of your eternal destination? Satan would have us think pain and suffering last forever – it’s just another of his lies. In what ways has God called you to persevere? Can you find a reason to rejoice in your present suffering?