Mark 8:32,34-38
Recently an 18 year old girl died at my kids school in a horrible car crash that caught on fire. She suffered and died in a terrible way in front of her father who couldn’t get her out.
Today as I was dropping off my boy at school, there is a large rock where the students wish happy birthday to other kids by painting this rock and so forth. It is a fun tradition at the school. Well, just prior to this girls death, her mom had painted the rock wishing her a happy birthday. It is still there as a reminder of how fragile life really is.
Today, I was asking the Lord to speak to me in a deep way and He did. I read Mark 3:32,34-38 where the Lord was rebuking Peter for opposing what he had just said -namely that He was going to die on the cross. The Lord then called him Satan… Meaning that anyone who ever opposed his purposes – wittingly or not – is advocating Satan’s work. Anything that opposes the will of God (which is always what Satan does) is opposing the Lord Himself.
We are to put to death our wishes and plans and dreams… and take up the cross of death to our wills and submit it daily to the Lord and providence. Meaning that WHATEVER happens – Eph. 1:11 is being accomplished. It says that the Lord is accomplishing HIS purposes and will work out ALL things according to the counsel of HIS will… not mine or anyone. I am to SUBMIT my will in death to the Sovereign purposes of the heavenly father who is in TOTAL control … even if I don’t understand it or see it. I do not want my life to OPPOSE his will or even OPPOSE his providence, for when I do, I am acting just like Peter did. The Lord rebukes me when I don’t take up my cross and be still – trusting his purposes.
All things will glorify Him one day – even sin – death – sorrow – suffering – ALL things means ALL things. Satan’s punishment in hell will be the ultimate GLORY to the Lord because satan is the object of God’s wrath. He will suffer for ever and ever in that final place of torment along with everyone who rejects the Lord Jesus.