Evil will not win…

Yesterday, God brought to my attention that the evil beings in this world, meaning the fallen angels, will not prevail forever.

I said, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.” (Psalm 82:6–7)

One cult uses this verse as ‘proof’ that Jesus is only ‘a god’ because it calls other people gods. They do not read it carefully or understand that the terms used to describe gods refer to fallen angels, including Satan and all demons. More than one verse clarifies that the ‘sons of God” is not a term for people. For example: “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.” (Job 1:6)

The Bible calls those who are saved “children” of God and being in the family of God, and Christ is our ‘brother’ but this term from Psalm 82, by its context, is not about people but about those creatures who darken the minds of people. Nevertheless, like people. They will die.

That they will also “fall like any prince” is a good reminder that the human leaders of this world will eventually die too. Over the centuries, and even in the OT, evil leaders ruled for a time and made life miserable for many of their subjects, but they do not live forever. In other words, focus on the facts. Evil people are also terminal. As someone once said, “We may choose what we want in the supermarket of life, but eventually we have to go through the checkout.”

Not only that, today’s devotional points to the last verse of Psalm 82:

Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations! (Psalm 82:8)

We are experiencing cosmic conflict, yet God repeats many times that the world is His, even though the gods are permitted for a season to wreak havoc. The Lord wants His people to see beyond their schemes of sin and realize this activity is suicidal and will end. One day, “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (Habakkuk 2:14) He even says, “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.” (Psalm 2:8) Evil will not win it; we will!

I’ve sometimes said that because I’ve read His book, I know the ending — Jesus wins! I don’t fully understand why God allows this war filled with its horror stories and deeds done by blinded people who seem to have no regard for their own lives, never mind the lives of others, but trusting God means faith in what He says, not in what I can see or figure out. And He says, “Jesus wins.” And He also says, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37) I don’t win because I experience the victory over evil in this world but because of the peace in my heart that God will do what He says. 

PRAY: God, again I am thankful that the so-called ‘ruler of this world’ is on a short leash. He answers to You and one day will be tossed in the lake of fire created just for him and his demons. In the meantime, You remain sovereign and all he desires must pass Your scrutiny. Only what You can use for good and to demonstrate Your glory is allowed. Thank You for letting me know who wins this war for human souls — and I pray You will make known to many the reality of Your Holy power and grace.

Christ’s Inheritance

 

Today’s devotional begins with this truth: Since Jesus is the Son of God, He is the heir of all that God possesses, based on this verse: “In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.” (Hebrews 1:2)

My Bible program has hundreds of books so I did a word search on “inheritance” and was surprised to find most of the hits were about our inheritance as God’s children and all we receive because God the Son died for us. Commentaries speak of what Christ inherits but I could not find any illustrations or quotes about that, only about what I inherit. I’m glad that MacArthur’s thoughts are not about God’s gift to us but first focus on His blessing on His Son. He begins by pointing to all that Jesus gave up when He came to earth:

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)

Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head. (Luke 9:58)

Jesus had nothing for Himself. This Galilean carpenter was crucified like a common criminal, naked and bleeding on a cross outside the city of Jerusalem. Even His clothes were taken from Him when He died, and He was buried in a tomb that belonged to someone else. Yet He is King of kings and Lord of lords. How can that be? It is because He is the Son of God and heir of all that God possesses.

All that exists was created by Him and for Him: “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” (Colossians 1:16) The OT predicted this would happen:

Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. (Psalm 2:8)

And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. (Psalm 89:27)

And the NT backs this up: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” (Colossians 1:15) The term “firstborn” is about legal rights including authority and inheritance.

This term shows that Christ will completely and eternally inherit all things. Yes, those who trust in Him will be joint heirs with Him and possess all that He possesses. His inheritance will be ours as well.

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15)

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:16–17)

PRAY: Jesus, the first thing, that You inherit all things and that all things are Yours is easy to understand. You are God the Son. The second thing, that I am a joint heir with You is mind blowing. I cannot wrap my mind around that, even though Your Spirit assures me that it is true. All I can grasp is that You died, and because of Your death, Your last will and testament makes me and all Your children Your heirs — yet You still retain ownership and authority over all that You bequeathed to us. How utterly amazing!

PONDER: Revelation 5:1–14 shouts that Jesus is “worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” Revelation 11:15–18 declares, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”

This too will be eternal joy for me and for all who trust in Him!