What Is There To Love About God? (Part Fourteen)

We continue to answer the question “What is there to love about God?” by looking at some astounding statements in Psalm 2. Psalm 1 is an introduction to the Book of Psalms and a wonderful reassurance that “right” will prevail over evil. We who delight in God’s word and way are blessed while the wicked will be on the losing side of life.

Psalm 2 quickly brings us into the battle that has been going on between Satan and God for eons. Satan has attempted to overthrow God’s rule throughout history. Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Putin, Ayatollah-Khomeleina,  Xi Jinping, and Kim are some names of those we might classify as pawns of Satan. There are leaders within our country whose policies and actions make you wonder if they may also be on Satan’s team. Whatever the case, it is clear that the battle for world supremacy continues to rage.

We are not only observers but participants in the battle. Jesus has taught us to pray ” Thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  Kristi McClelland has reminded us ” Prayer is a subversive activity in the kingdom of this world.”

I know there are lots of good people in our country who love God and are devoted to His will but I am often driven to despair by some of the evil, heinous things that are happening in our country and other parts of the world.

Psalm 2 has an important message for those of us who wonder when and how this war between good and evil will end. This messianic psalm says that God laughs at those who presume they can defeat Him and His anointed One. God is sovereign and will have the last word in the war with evil.

“Why are the nations in an uproar, and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and His  Anointed. Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!

He who is enthroned in heaven laughs, the Lord scoffs at them. Then He will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in his fury.  But as for me, I have installed my king upon Zion, my holy mountain. I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to me, Thou art my Son, today I have begotten Thee. Ask of me and I will surely give the nations as Thine inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Thy possession. Thou shalt rule them with a rod of iron and Thou shalt shatter them like earthenware.”

By the inspiration of the Spirit, David prophesies the coming of the Messiah. This was fulfilled a thousand years beyond his rule as king of Israel! This Anointed One was Jesus, born of woman, crucified, buried, and raised from the dead. As Paul writes, “In the fullness of  time, God sent His Son into the world.”

We must understand and celebrate what Jesus did in this battle between good and evil. He defeated   Satan by allowing himself to be crucified. Disguised in a human body, God came and took on the powers of sin and evil and dealt Satan and evil the death blow when He went to the cross. Satan and his minions thought the cross meant they had won, but they were wrong. In his death, Jesus took on all the filth, evil, and rebellion of every person who has lived. Jesus took on the blackness of hell, went through separation from the Father, and suffered what you and I deserved.

But the story does not end with Jesus’ death on the cross! While Satan and his puppets celebrated, the followers of Jesus were discouraged and dismayed, God was at work. Death could not kill Him. He was not defeated. Jesus’ body was placed in a tomb but the greatest event in human history was just a couple of days away!

According to  Matthew’s gospel, ” Now on the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave.” (Matthew 28:1)  These devoted followers came to the grave site to pay respect and mourn Jesus’ death, but they got the greatest news ever heard by human ears, ” Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen as He said. Come see the place where he was lying.” (Matthew 28:5-6).

What am I  trying to say about the battle we are currently witnessing between good and evil?

First, if you confess Jesus as your Lord you have eternal life right now, and no power in hell can destroy that. Satan cannot steal that from you and death itself will not end the life you have in Jesus Christ. Your battle with sin and death has been won for you, a gift purchased by the death and resurrection of Jesus!

Second, let me opine how our beloved nation will fare in the battle between good and evil. America is about 250 years old, very young compared to the Roman and Babylonia empires, once great kingdoms that are now distant memories. There are different opinions on why these civilizations are no longer with us. I am not capable of explaining the reasons for their demise.

However, I am deeply concerned about the direction of our country. Some things happening now in our country portend certain disintegration and death to the great nation our founders envisioned. Many great truths enunciated in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution are being ignored and shredded. God and His word are being ignored.

Will our nation survive, will we be on the side of good or evil? Will God cast us aside? TBD

It depends on one thing, our choice. I choose obedience to  Jesus’ call on my life and to pray daily for a great revival to sweep our land. Join me in this.

One more word about the future of America. I believe we are at a critical crossroad, a turning point in the direction of our nation. Do we continue doing what we are doing? If so, we will  get the same results we have been getting for the last three years. I am very fearful this may happen. God save us from this fate.