God's Work with Planet Earth

One of the reasons God is allowing the sin rebellion to play out in this world is to expose the contrast between God’s way of running His Universe and Satan’s way of running this world. For a short time, Satan is given limited freedom and power to manipulate and deceive individuals, world leaders and governments, but not to destroy people at will.

The Accusation

I want to start with the experience of Paul and Silas in the city of Thessalonica in Greece. The Jews in that city rejected the gospel, including that Jesus was the Messiah and was resurrected from the dead. They gathered together a mob. The NKJV translation says “evil men”, and the KJV says “lewd fellows of the baser sort”. There are three Greek words that describe the kind of men the Thessalonian Jews recruited to storm the house where Paul and Silas were staying.

• Greek “poneros” (lewd) means dangerous or hurtful in an evil way
• Greek “aner” (fellows) men
• Greek “agoraios” (of the baser sort) means relating to a market place that is forensic (criminal), vulgar, uneducated, unsophisticated

So the Jews got a bunch of unsophisticated thugs from the dangerous part of town to form a mob. When they couldn’t find Paul and Silas, they hauled their host, Jason, and some of his companions before the “rulers of the city” with this accusation:

“…These who have turned the world upside down have come here too” Acts 17:6

These Jews also hilariously tried to accused Paul and his fellow Christians of treason against the Roman government (verse 7), but they weren’t breaking any laws so the rulers let them go. Paul explained to the believers in Corinth why the Jews were so incensed.

“but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,” 1 Corinthians 1:23

And here were Jews in Greece who could not accept the idea that their Messiah won by losing. It was both a stumbling block and seemed foolish. So they said Paul and Silas “turned the world upside down”. They were not wrong. Jesus Himself said:

“…My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight…” John 18:36

• Constant wars and fighting in this world, but that is not the way of Jesus’ kingdom

“But many who are first will be last, and the last first” Matthew 19:30

• Those who have power and authority (or are first) in this world will be last and lowest in “the regeneration” (verse 28), which was Jesus’ way of referring to the future recreated Earth.

“But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.” Matthew 20:25-26

Do these statements seem opposite of the world we live in now? Do they seem “upside down” to the way our world works?

“just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28

The Ruler and Creator of the entire Universe becomes a human being with a fallen nature, and dies to save human beings? How many human world leaders would make it their aim to serve and die for their subjects?

The Issue of Control

Right now in Europe and the United States, there are controversies and concerns over the “Surveillance State”, or governments monitoring and controlling the private lives of citizens. Satan says you can do whatever you want, and that’s freedom. God has rules He wants you to follow, and Satan claims that’s not freedom.

Check out these passages, which explain why we see horrible things going on in our world.

“the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” 1 John 5:19

“Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Matthew 4:8-9

“Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.” John 12:31

Scripture is clear on this:

• The Devil rules the world temporarily
• Jesus confirmed it, but indicated that this will only be the case for a short time (see also Revelation 12:12)
• But because God gave humans free will, Satan does not rule every person. (see Job 1:7,8)

But look at the kingdoms of the world that Satan claims as his. Wars and violence, injustice and deception, a vicious competition for control and dominance. Literally upside down from the way God’s kingdom is described.

Back to Satan’s accusation that God is tyrannical for having laws and order. There is a biblical sequence for how believers should relate to God, and it starts with surrender.

“Therefore submit to God…” James 4:7

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…” Matthew 6:33

Then there’s a process of character transformation and spiritual growth the Bible calls “sanctification”.

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification…” 1 Thessalonians 4:3

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2

“…you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11

This is God changing us for the better, but only with our permission, which is why surrender is important. Notice that it says “by the Spirit of our God”, and in Galatians 5, one of the fruits of the Spirit is “self control”. This blew my mind when I first understood what’s going on here.

• First we surrender our life to God
• This gives Him permission to change us from being hard hearted and unforgiving to be wise, flexible, caring, understanding (like Jesus, Philippians 2:5)
• Part of what the Holy Spirit gives is “self control”.
  • God enables us and empowers us to be self directed, not coerced or manipulated by Him.
  • Self control, in part, allows us avoid bad decisions that bring bad consequences
• In other words, we give control over to God, and He improves our character and returns that control to us.

“…if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:36

“…where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” 2 Corinthians 3:17

Kingdoms of Earth vs. the Heavenly Kingdom

In this world, governments and large corporations desperately want to dominate markets and control the public. What is really happening? In this spiritual conflict between Christ and Satan, Satan is influencing individuals who run these organizations to behave this way.

Those who gain power in this world will do anything to keep it within their grasp. People are silenced, cancelled, punished, even eliminated if they become a threat to that power, influence, and control.

But take a look at these verses about God’s future kingdom:

“Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’ Daniel 7:27

The kingdoms of this world will be given to the people?

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:5, 10

It seems Jesus agreed with the prophet Daniel. God originally created this world for the joy and fulfillment of the humans He also created. When the earth is recreated, God will give it back to His people.

“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne…” Revelation 3:21

“…for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” Luke 12:32

“Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?” James 2:5

Does this sound like an egomaniac cosmic dictator who doesn’t want to share power? Doesn’t it seem upside down or opposite compared to what we’re used to seeing from world leaders?

Since the Beginning

In the Garden of Eden, the serpent (who we can identify as Satan and the Devil, from Revelation 12:9, 20:2) said:

“…God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God…” Genesis 3:5

Adam and Eve already had eternal life. God said if they ate from the tree they would die. Satan said, “You shall not surely die” (verse 4). How slick! Without even saying it, he called God a liar, and he insinuated that God insecurely did not want them to be like Him.

Does God want to keep humans down so they don’t become like Him, as Satan insinuated or hinted at?

“God created man (Hebrew “adam” means human beings, mankind) in His own image…” Genesis 1:27

“…you shall be holy; for I am holy…” Leviticus 11:44

“Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48

God’s Word clearly expresses His desire for humans to become like Him in character. But after all those verses earlier in this post, who’s really the liar? Who really wants to dominate and control? It’s this rebellious archangel “who is the Devil and Satan”.

So for now, believers are behind enemy lines. But a rescue is coming, in which Jesus Christ will appear in the clouds “with power and great glory” and resurrect all those who “died in Christ”, to take them out of this world. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)