There has been and always will be a difference in the work and motives of God and the work and motives of Satan. God works for good; Satan (the enemy) works for evil.
Take Jesus’ death for example. Satan saw it as an opportunity for evil, to get rid of his sworn enemy. But God saw it as an opportunity for good, to have a sacrifice in the place of sinners to bring about the salvation of those sinners. I like the way John Piper put it much better than I just did:
The heart of the Bible is not an explanation of where evil comes from, but a demonstration of how God enters into it and turns it for the very opposite-everlasting righteousness and joy. (p.118)
Ironically, Jesus had to endure evil and suffering in order to overcome evil and suffering. It still amazes me that He was willing to go through all that evil and suffering in order to declaw them. It’s like what Paul asked at the end of I Corinthians 15: “O death, where is your sting? O death, where is your victory?” (verses 54-55) Declawed for good. No Energizer bunny here.
I like that the Bible is not focused on the negativity, but on the positive.
Love, Redemption, Forgiveness, Grace…
We have to sometimes read through the tough verses as well, but they are there to point us to our need.
I think that is a great point Ryan! I love reading through the tough ones and then coming out on the other end.
God is always working everything out for the good of those who love Him. Though we, too, endure evil and suffering, we can give thanks to Jesus for ultimately defeating both by His unselfish sacrifice on the cross.
Blessings, Bill!
Dear Bill … thank you for a needed recalibration and refocusing on what matters most this week.
Sadly, Lent has passed me by …
Amen! “Oh, death where is your sting?”
The other side of this is perfection…