@Jems 24 May 2021 more from that month

Satan’s Ultimate Destiny

The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you will be punished. From now on, you and the woman will be enemies, and your offspring and her offspring will be enemies. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” –Genesis 3:14-15 Why does God allow evil? We know that God created the universe, including the angels, some of whom rebelled against him. So why did he let it happen? Wouldn’t the world be a better place if he had never allowed Satan to rebel and evil to run loose? These are philosophical questions for some, but for those of us who’ve been hurt by the evil and brokenness of this world, the question is personal, and our pursuit of an answer is pivotal. The Bible begins and ends by addressing God’s battle with Satan. We see the beginning of the story in Genesis 3, as God curses the serpent Satan, pronouncing his punishment—that the seed of the woman, the coming Christ, will one day crush him. And we are not left to wonder how the story of history will end. Revelation 20 tells us that at the end of this age, when Christ returns, judgment will rain down. Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire along with his demons. Can you almost hear the sighs of relief and shouts of victory from God’s people as Satan goes down in the sulfur inferno for the last time? He will be destroyed forever, never again to terrorize us with evil or tyrannize us with sin. We’re glad to hear it, but we can’t help but ask, Why not now? God, why would you permit Satan to inflict so much pain in the world for so long? Ultimately, we must trust the wisdom, goodness, and timing of God, but he has given us clues in his Word. God permits Satan to work in the world because in the end it will be good for the church he loves and it will bring him more glory. Through the suffering sent by Satan, we are drawn to rely more heavily on God. Satan fans the flames of God’s refining fire, which we know God is using for good in our lives. And so God waits. And we wait. When you become discouraged and defeated by the evil that surrounds you and the sin that has stolen so much from you, and when you’re tempted to think wickedness has won, remember that the devil’s days are numbered. Find hope in the truth that when all is said and done, the devil will be defeated and you’ll be safe in the arms of God. Conquering Savior, how we long for that day when you serve Satan the final blow and we are free of his influence forever. Come quickly, Lord Jesus! DIGGING DEEPER Read the whole story of Satan’s final defeat in Revelation 20:1-10.