What if every verse of Scripture could
not only be understandable but also bring hope and wisdom to you when you need
it most? What if what seems to be boring lists peoples’ family trees listed in
the Bible could help you to learn how your life could improve not only here and
now but also eternally? What if learning about the Southern Kingdom of Judah
going in captivity (Jer. 25:1-11) could give you hope in your times of despair?
What if the judgments described in the book of Revelation could help to make sense
of a world which seems to be falling apart? What if you could have answers to
life’s most difficult questions? The answer to these questions is a resounding,
yes! When the Bible is properly understood, life just makes sense. And when a
person applies a handful of simple concepts, the living Word of God begins to
transform their lives.
At first glance a person may think that
the Bible is just a book of random stories which do not relate to each other.
However, this month’s lesson deals with the plot of the Bible. This is what
ties every verse of Scripture together. The plot of the Bible is found in
Genesis 3:15. There God says to Satan “I will put enmity between you and the
woman, and between your offspring (those who are not believers) and hers; He will
crush your head, and you will strike His heel.” Here God promises to send Jesus
Christ into the world. God promised to do this in order to reconcile mankind to
Himself. The plot of the Bible is this declaration of war between God and Satan.
The history of those who are involved in this battle and moral lessons of how
God expects those who are on His side are also included. Every passage of
Scripture points to this Great War.
The reason for this battle originates in
the Garden of Eden when mankind decided to listen to Satan and gave into
temptation. Our world suffered the consequences which God said would happen
(Gen. 2:17). It was at that moment that sin came into the world severing the
close relationship mankind enjoyed from God, and causing disease, corruption,
hardships, suffering, and death to come into the world. This is the explanation
of a lot of the pain and difficulties which we experience today. This was never
God’s plan for mankind (Gen. 1:31); rather it was the result of Adam and Eve’s
own choice (Gen. 3:16-19). Likewise we often suffer as a result of others
choices. Consider the innocent mother and children who were killed by a drunk
driver, or the young girl who is molested by her father. This mother and her
children, and girl who was molested, did not chose this path for themselves,
yet they suffered on account of it. Therefore, God declared war Satan the
tempter.
From Genesis 3:15 on, the Bible reveals
God’s plan to restore His relationship with mankind and reverse what sin
caused, while Satan’s attempts to prevent what God promised from being fulfilled.
The following are a few highlights God’s plan and Satan’s response. First, in
Genesis 12, God promises that Jesus would be a descendant of Abraham (Gen.
12:1-3; Acts 3:25). Yet Satan attempted to stop Abraham and his descendants
(Gen. 12:17-20). Second, God promised
that Jesus would be a descendant of David (2 Sam. 7:12-16). And Satan responded
by attacking David (1 Chron. 21:1). Third, Satan attempted to stop Jesus (Matt.
4:1-11). Yet Satan could not stop Jesus from accomplishing His purpose of
coming to reconcile mankind back to God through His death on the cross (2 Cor.
5:21; Gal. 3:13).
And Satan tries to stop us as Christians
(1 Pet. 5:8). Yet he cannot overcome us. Even though the victory is secured,
Satan will continue to wage war until Jesus returns (Rev. 19:11-21; 20:10). Yet
even so, he cannot overcome us. Satan at his strongest cannot overcome people
coming to Christ (Matt. 16:18; Rev. 12:9-11). And when we resist him, he must
flee (James 4:7). Therefore, when you are struggling with temptation, and Satan
continues to hound you, you can have confidence knowing the end of the story.
The Bible plainly declares our victory as Christians.
May these words encourage you to stand
strong regardless of what opposition may come your way. May they inspire you to
put on the full armor of God, picking up the sword of Spirit to slice through
the attacks of evil one (Eph. 6:10-20). And may these words bring you hope as
you look forward to the day when Satan nor the causes which sin brought into
this world will never be able to hound you again (Rev. 21:1-7).
More of Him less of me,
Matt
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