Satan's Endgame

            It has been tried before, it is being done now, and it will be attempted again tomorrow. The final result was, and is, and always will be the same. God remains indestructible. Man, however, remains fair game in a hunter's world. Satan is on the prowl.

            A striking example comes to us during the life of King Hezekiah. After sacking the northern kingdom of Israel, the power hungry Sennacherib set his gaze upon Jerusalem. This prompted Hezekiah to humble himself before God and pray for deliverance. Though Assyria had conquered many kingdoms and gods, Hezekiah longed for the nations to see the God of Israel as more than a lifeless stone or tree. He prayed for God to reveal His sovereignty over all peoples and gods. Israel's God promptly demonstrated His authority by sending his angel to destroy 185,000 Assyrians in their camp. The God of Israel is the one, true, indestructible God.

            Today, biblical truth finds itself under a constant barrage of attacks. Relevant news stories litter print media and the Internet. The raided foundations include creation, absolute truth, Jesus as the only way of salvation, the uniqueness of the Bible, the necessity of the church, and the biblical family unit. The psalmist asks in Psalm 11:3, "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" The next verse of that psalm reminds us not to despair. "The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord's throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men." Christ will build His church. Great suffering sometimes enters the picture, but God's people advance in His strength. Even the communist nations of Eastern Europe failed to completely eradicate the worship of the God who has revealed Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. One look at Richard Wurmbrand's Tortured For Christ verifies that fact. The God who made heaven and earth is indestructible.

            Nevertheless, these lessons have not stopped our great adversary from attacking in another more cunning and ruthless way. Satan knows he cannot defeat God. So, he has launched a vicious attack on individuals, families, and the church. All the while Satan keeps a greater purpose in play with these attacks.

            But first, we must focus attention on the attacks. Indisputably, God created man. God then instituted marriage by forming Eve from Adam's rib and bringing the woman to the man. The man then shall leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife, and they shall become one flesh. God also sent His son to the earth to save his people from their sins. He came to show them light and truth. Christ came to show them how to love, just as He loved them. After His resurrection and ascension, Jesus poured forth the promise of the Holy Spirit. The church of the Lord Jesus Christ was birthed.

            Now, what do these three things have in common? God created and instituted each one. Neither man, nor family, nor church originated with man. They are three sacred pillars in God's good creation. All are designed to bring glory and honor to God. So, what better point of attack for a smart, devilish enemy than the instruments God created to bring Him glory? Remember, there exists a greater purpose behind these attacks.

            First, let's consider the attack on the individual. Satan relishes the opportunity to devour the individual. God created man in his own image. Male and female God created them.  Through sin man lost his true identity, and marred his created image and value. They are recoverable only in Jesus Christ. Satan the adversary prowls about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.

            Sin's presence combined with man's deceitful heart leaves man continuously biting the poisonous fruit. Indeed, all that glitters is not gold. The world runs amok with cheap substitutes for God. People having lost their true identity take matters into their own hands to recover something they can never reach themselves. Much pain and suffering enters the individual's world, leading to further self-medication through many fruitless, harmful and deadly pursuits. Hope is decimated. Love runs cold. Faith shrivels under the intense heat. It seems Satan has done his job well. But, there is One who can help. God provides protection pieces for His own. These are found in relationship to Him and in his Holy word.

            The second attack targets the family. The continuing attempt to redefine the God-ordained institution of marriage highlights Satan's plan to denigrate the family. Believers have contributed to this denigration by not modeling and practicing healthy, godly marriages. Satan, the skilled opportunist, seeks to throw gnawing strife into the picture, too. The pressures of marriage and family are great. Working 9 to 5 can take its toll, especially when ends barely meet. Furthermore, families schedule a dizzying array of activities. Sometimes it's like strangers living under the same roof. This is not God's plan.

            Additionally, we see parental authority scrutinized under society's microscope. The state does not own the children. The state did not create the children. The family is God's institution. More and more we see cases where parental rights are being chipped away one piece at a time. When minors can be granted a judicial bypass for abortion, then something is dreadfully wrong. A judicial bypass means a child under 18 can request a judge's permission to go against her parents and receive the abortion, in states where parental involvement is required. Scarier still, many states do not have a parental involvement requirement. On the whole Satan thirsts for the defamation of the God-ordained family's reputation and character. Remember, God provides abundant shelter.

            The last attack takes full aim at the church. Satan's desire is to dilute the church, because he knows he cannot destroy the church. A diluted church is an innocuous church. In Revelation the church at Sardis demonstrates this modern sleepiness. Christ exposed their masquerade, for they were alive in name only. Sleepy Sardis posed little danger, if any, to Satan's activity there. On the other hand, a church at full strength poses a credible threat unto the dominion of Satan.

            So, why not introduce destructive heresies? That helps create division. Mix in the desire for personal preferences and a lack of forgiveness, and the recipe for dilution smells pungent. Churches split and its' people bicker, while the lost toil through this life in need of good news. The church gets side-tracked from her core mission and kingdom focus. The disturbing absence of heartfelt petitions before the throne of God's power cripple the church. Self-centeredness rules the day, as church becomes all about me and my needs. Entertainment enters the foray and steals away the heart's true devotion unto the Lord. Look around at the church, at your church. Are we diluted? Recall to your mind the words spoken by Jesus, "I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven"(Matthew 16:18-19).

            Satan employs a menacing three "D" attack: devour the individual, denigrate the family, dilute the church. His greater purpose is to diminish the name of God. Since Satan--the sworn enemy of God--stands powerless to defeat God, he seeks to diminish this grand and glorious name across the nations. His entry points are the very things God created and ordained to bring Him glory. By employing his "3D" attack, he goes about his business well. The really sad part is that I have contributed to his cause. Through stupidity and sinfulness, my history casts a long shadow over God's name at various points. My actions turned people off to the greatness of God's name. The name cannot truly be diminished, but among the nations, among the world's peoples the name can be diminished by improper usage, rampant sinfulness, haughty pride, arrogant mocking, and the like. Jesus essentially becomes taboo. Reducing Jesus to one among many gods tarnishes his uniqueness. His name is above all names. Every knee shall bow one day before this King of Kings.

            If we know the adversary's employed strategy, then we shall own greater awareness of God's grace-given protections. Find and live your identity in Christ. Build a family centered upon the worship of Holy God. Be a living stone employing your spiritual gift or gifts for the edification of Christ's body, the church. Refuse to relinquish any ground before the adversary, for his works have been destroyed by our risen Savior! May God's name be proudly hailed and declared for all to hear.

           

           

           

Irreconcilable Differences

In response to the failed plane bombing recently, President Obama called for mutual respect between America and the Muslim world, in order to combat terrorist plots and activities. This is a noble charge, but inherently flawed. If Obama thinks gaining consensus on health care reform is daunting, then he should reevaluate his statement on mutual respect between America and the Muslim world when he considers the radical divide between Muslims and Christians. While Obama's call for mutual respect was not between Muslims and Christians, essentially that's the nature of it. The point here is not to argue if America thinks she is a Christian nation, because the Muslim world generally regards America as a Christian nation, or in the very least as the dominant power and influence of Western culture. Either way, the Muslim world is fiercely opposed to both.

Ask yourself this question, "How can there be mutual respect when Muslims, in general, consider Christians to be infidels?" Infidels are not met with compassion, but castigation. On the other hand, true Christians seek to meet Muslims with compassion because of their need for Christ. That's why many missionaries risk life and limb to spread the gospel in Muslim dominated countries.

Living in America means the Constitution affords all individuals the right to worship according to their elective choices. While I stand in opposition to any worship contrary to the worship of the God of the Bible, I stand in agreement with the letter of the Constitution in granting the freedom of religion. If not for that freedom, then my worship of God would probably be underground and constantly fraught with peril.

So, I vigorously defend religious freedom, while simultaneously denouncing any worship of God that is not directed through the Lord Jesus Christ. Castigating non-believers hinders the spread of the gospel. And, why would I seek to hinder the heart of Christ's message, the good news? Being at odds religiously and philosophically does not mandate hatred and exclusion. Consider this, non-militant Muslims vehemently oppose conversion to Christianity. Death threats follow after converts. Parents renounce familial ties with infidel children. Where is the respect?

In contrast, true Christians act differently toward familial deserters. Hurt, pain and anguish characterize those stunned by news of a "new" religion. But, ceaseless prayers break like ocean waves upon God's throne for the genuine salvation of the wayward family member. The Christian parents yearn for the release of religion and the revelation of a relationship with Almighty God through his only provision, Jesus Christ.

The existence of such an unbridgeable chasm seriously questions the possibility of mutual respect that supersedes political correctness. Real respect can only be fostered between the world's dominant religions when conversion to Christianity is not punishable by death or disowning. I know respect is a two-way street. While I would be utterly heartbroken if one of my daughters converted to Islam, I would never disown her. My tears would soak my knees and drown the church altar for her true conversion to Christ.

Yes, both Christian and Muslim parents desire for their children to be as they are. The difference being, I don't believe my children are born Christian. They need God's salvation offered in Jesus Christ and sealed by the Holy Spirit to break upon them. I cannot force them to be Christian. I must pray, teach and lead them to Christ. You are born a Muslim if your parents are Muslim, thus making you a follower of Islamic doctrine. On the contrary, you are born a sinner in need of repentance toward God and faith in Christ if your parents are Christian. A striking difference indeed! Christianity is driven by love and faith, while Islam is driven by legalism and fear.

Where can common ground for mutual respect find breathable air in that unstable atmosphere? Oh well, there is always health care reform.