Why God doesn't kill the devil
Question: "God vs. Satan - God is
all-powerful, so why does He not just kill Satan?"
Answer: One of the mysteries of the Christian
life is why God didn’t just destroy Satan immediately after he sinned. We know
that God will one day defeat Satan once and for all by throwing him into the
Lake of Fire where he will be tortured day and night forever (Revelation 20:10), but sometimes we wonder why God has not destroyed
Satan already. Perhaps we will never know God’s reasoning in this particular
situation, but we do know certain things about Him.
First, we know He is absolutely sovereign over
all creation, and this includes Satan, who is “on a very short leash.”
Certainly, Satan and his demons wreak havoc in the world, but they are only
allowed to go so far and no farther. We also know that God has planned
everything from the beginning of time to the end. Nothing can thwart His plans,
and things are proceeding exactly on schedule. “The LORD of hosts has sworn:
‘As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand’”
(Isaiah 14:24).
Second, “we know that all things work together
for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His
purpose” (Romans
8:28). Whatever God has planned for
Satan, that plan will be the best one possible, resulting in God’s perfect
wrath and justice being satisfied and His perfect righteousness being
glorified. Those who love Him and who wait for His plan to be fulfilled will be
thrilled to be part of that plan and will praise and glorify Him as they see it
unfold.
Third, we know that calling into question
God’s plan and its timing is to call into question God Himself, His judgment,
His character and His very nature. It is not wise to question His right to do
exactly as He pleases. The psalmist tells us, “As for God, His way is perfect”
(Psalm 18:30). Whatever plan comes from the mind of the Almighty
is the best plan possible. It is true that we can’t expect to understand that
mind perfectly, as He reminds us: “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,’ says the LORD. ‘For as the heavens are higher
than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your
thoughts’” (Isaiah
55:8-9). Nevertheless, our
responsibility to God is to obey Him, to trust Him, and to submit to His will,
whether we understand it or not. In the case of His timing for Satan’s demise,
it has to be the best possible plan because it is God’s plan.
Comments
Post a Comment