Why Does The Devil Keep Trying?

If we look at the story of the covenant we studied in Genesis 15, then look at Ephesians 6:12 (the 'we wrestle not against flesh and blood' verse) and Romans 8:28 (the 'all things work together for good' verse), what can they mean when you put them all together?  

These verses give us understanding of why Satan didn't give up when Jesus rose from the dead, effectively winning the war, obtaining the keys to death, hell and the grave and insuring our place beside Him in the hereafter.

Remember when we looked at the weird shadow of the Gospel in Genesis 15?  God made a covenant with Abraham (Abram at the time) and sealed the deal with the promise that if He didn't keep His end of the bargain, He would basically slaughter Himself.  

We saw that Abram didn't have to do anything and that God took on both sides of the covenant, the One who made the promise and the one who broke the promise culminating in Jesus dying on the cross.  But, because Jesus was without sin, the grave had no hold on Him.  His death paid the price for our sins but His lack of sin is the reason for His resurrection.

Now there are a whole lot of theological things going on here but for the sake of simplicity, and this post, lets not get into those things right now. The point we are going for is that God takes His Word very seriously.  Anyway, that is part one.  

Part two is Ephesians 6:12 which says, 

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." 

This scripture reminds us that our war with unseen forces still rages on.  The enemy isn't your spouse or your adolescent rebel-child.  Your enemy isn't the person at work who gives you grief.  It is the devil and his army.

Now, on to part three which is Romans 8:28 which says, 

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."  

I know that we have looked at this verse before but, it is such a good one.

So, why didn't it all end when Jesus was victorious at the resurrection?  Because God chose there to be such a thing as "the fullness of the Gentiles," (Romans 11:25).  This means that God chose to postpone the end of the age so that many, many from around the world, would come to His kingdom.

Satan knows that, because the end hasn't come yet, he can attempt to break the Word of God.  If Satan can cause one tiny piece of God's word to be wrong, God would be proven a liar, His promise would be void, and the new overthrow of God's government would be successful. And, since there is only one Jesus, the damage would be irreparable.

Jesus has chosen to tarry so that you, I, and the billions alive today have the chance to be saved. As a matter of fact, 2 Peter 3:9 says that God doesn't want any to perish.

I say all this so you will look at the promises of God in a new light.  Satan hates you.  All you are to him is collateral damage in his ongoing rebellion against God.  He would kill you if he could because God loves you.  If he can nullify God's word with you or your life, he most certainly will.  On the other hand, as we have seen, God is serious about His word.  You can take His promises to the bank.  He will honor His word.

God promises that all things are working together, not individual things but all things together, are working for our good.  Everything that happens to you, is happening for your benefit.  Of course, this promise only applies to those who love God and are the called according to his purpose.

Seek God's promises.  Don't be discouraged when things seem to be falling apart.  The war is real. Eternity is real. God will honor His Word, it cannot be broken (John 10:35). Life is but a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away (James 4:14).  Lay up your treasures in Heaven (Matthew 6:20) and, hold on to God's promises!

Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Rev 22:20)