God’s purpose for every situation in my life is completely opposite to Satan’s purpose for my life. God’s always being good, and Satan’s always being evil.
“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” Job 23:10
Man, I learned that truth in a very funny way today.
That truth was very real to me this morning as I sat down in my easy chair to get into the Word this morning. I normally spend time with God after I am all ready to go for the day, and this morning was no exception. My pants and shirt were all ironed and tucked in. I had my shoes on, contacts in, and my hair was even gelled. I had just poured a cup of fresh Starbucks Christmas Blend. I turned to the book of Ephesians, and everything was completely normal. I was reflecting on truths that popped out at me. I thought of how Dr. Olinger called Ephesians 1 the Christmas passage for the believer, because every other verse is like another package to open on Christmas day. I read through the passages on the new man, the truths about how I ought to walk in the Christian life, and how God is able to do abundantly more than we can ever ask or think. The Word was tasting good. I read into chapter 5, the passage on husbands and wives, and I read Christ’s purpose for the church, to “present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle…that she might be...without blemish.” In mid-verse, I had taken a sip of coffee, and for some odd reason, I bumped the edge of the coffee cup sending hot coffee all over my freshly ironed pants and shirt. I’m not joking, as my eyes looked at the words spot, wrinkle and blemish, a spot wrinkle and blemish of coffee worked its way onto my pants. I have to smile about it now, because that’s just hilarious. Blemish on the page, Blemish on my pants...clean fresh ironed khakis. Hah.
Though I’m laughing now, that wasn’t my first reaction this morning. Instantly I was presented with an opportunity, God had a purpose in the occasion. But amazingly, so did Satan. God wanted my whole heart. He wanted to test me to see if my attitude was fickle to the point that I would lose an opportunity to commune with Him. Satan wanted my anger to destroy any fellowship I was having with my Father. Thankfully, after asking God to forgive my initial outburst…a seething sigh, the Holy Spirit brought this thought to mind. His purpose for my life is always good, and Satan’s purpose for my life is always bad. They are always opposite, and never coordinating. I praise my Father for that truth today.
Posted by jonkopp at December 30, 2004 11:44 AM"His purpose for my life is always good, and Satan’s purpose for my life is always bad."
Such a simple truth, yet many times we show we disregard it when the opportunity -temptation- comes along. Thanks for reminding us.