“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:15
Sin had officially entered the world. With all its pomp and circumstance came changes, lots of changes.
But God was ready with a plan.
Psalm 91:13 reads, “You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.” Sin entered the world through a choice that a human made. She was deceived by Satan in snake-skin.
But humans don’t need to fear Satan, or snakes. We are promised in that Psalm that we will tread upon them and trample them. God had a plan to save us from Satan for eternity. Accept Christ and His sacrifice, and spend eternity in heaven.
What about today? Life here on earth?
Jesus Himself gives us authority over Satan. In Luke 10:18-19 Jesus replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”
Maybe Satan doesn’t tempt you with an apple. Maybe it’s something you don’t ever want to discuss. Maybe you are a “Good Person” ninety percent of the time.
That other, challenging ten percent? God gives you the authority to cast Satan away. Romans 16:20 tells us, “God will soon crush Satan under your feet.”
Although Satan wanted to ‘get even’ with God in the garden of Eden, it is God who has the final win. God authored a plan to not only save our souls forever, but also our hearts today.
Reflections:
Monday: What are some of the consequences of sin that affect you personally today?
Tuesday: Read Psalm 91:13 How do you see yourself ‘trampling the lion and the serpent?’
Wednesday: Read Luke 10:18-19 What promise do these verses contain? How or when might your claim that promise? How does this knowledge, when implemented, change how you approach life?
Thursday: Read John 10:10 What purpose does the enemy serve?
What purpose does Jesus serve?
Friday: Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, when You created the world and us, You had the best of everything planned. Humans chose sin, falling headfirst into Satan’s snare. But You, through Your great love, authored another way to return to You. And You offered us not only eternal life, but also a full and abundant life here on earth. Thank you for such a great, unfathomable love. Amen.
Oh my. You make it sound like God and Satan are playing a game of football or something, with humans caught in the middle. Are God and Satan really on the same level? Should we choose which side we want to play for, or who picks us when we line up in gym class?
Dear WS,
First, thank you for your comment and question. I have spent several days praying about how to best answer what I think you are asking. I do think in some respects we humans do get caught in the middle, as each God and Satan have a desire to see our souls in a specific place. Do I really think they are on the same level? Absolutely not. I think the challenge is that while God has infinitely more power, we humans don’t always think to call on it. We are told that Satan is “Prince of This World” for a time. God can and certainly does intervene, but often, only when we ask Him into the situation. God lets us choose how we want to live life. He could have commanded us to automatically love Him, but is it really love if we were simply programmed? He loves us enough to let us choose. I’m guessing by your photo you are a parent. (Cute little one in there with you!) So am I. If I were to command my children to love me, and never give them any other option, is that really love? Instead, I show them love and discipline, and as they grow and mature, they must choose. (Believe me, I don’t pen those words lightly! I have a teen and a tween in the mix. They are certainly at the age of desiring independence!)
I know this world can be both overwhelming and frustrating, and sometimes we wonder, ‘why did God allow this or that to happen?’ If we could answer that in every instance, we would not need Him. I do believe He certainly does not author evil and He does redeem all the negative things, and somehow, someway, uses them for good, just as He promises. He also promises one day we will understand why all things transpired, but the timing of when we understand such things may occur here on earth, or it may not be until we reach heaven. I hoped that answers your question. I would love to dialogue further, if you wish. Thank you for reading my blog, and may you have a blessed week. Stefanie Lynn