Want Hope? You Need This Truth About Satan and the Book of Life
Many books and movies present a dastardly villain as part of the storyline. Readers and viewers are most satisfied when finally as the story comes to a close the villain is defeated and justice prevails.
“Villain” does not even begin to describe satan. The dark, dark evils he has reigned down on the world and all of humanity are unspeakable. Hatred. Destruction. Suffering. Disease. Persecution. Chaos. Death.
The enemy of our souls is not a character in a story. He is an angel who pridefully took a stand against God and who, with the angels who followed him, has made it a goal to steal, kill, and destroy all that the Lord loves . . . including you and me.
But God wants us to know how it ends for him:
Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Revelation 20:10
And for you and me:
I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it . . . I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.
Revelation 20:11a, 12
Praise God! Your name (and mine) is written in the Book of Life!
Because of God’s great love, the gift of Holy Spirit empowered faith, and because of God’s undeserved grace and mercy, all who know, love, and trust in Jesus will hear the King say:
“Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.”
Matthew 25:34
By God’s grace, from the moment satan, the devil, is thrown into the lake of fire and throughout all eternity, he will never again be a threat to anyone whose name is in the Book of Life.
A Prayer to Live Assured of God’s Love
and the Book of Life
Father, thank you for the assurance of Your Word. Thank you for Your promises and for the hope they give me. Thank you for loving us so much and for sending Jesus to show us Your love, to teach us how to live, and to save us from the enemy who wants to steal, kill and destroy us.
Your Word assures us that satan’s time is limited, that Jesus defeated him on the cross, and that we don’t have to fear him. You give us everything we need to stand strong against his lies and temptations.
I give You my heart. I trust Your Word and I believe Your promises. I lay my sins at the foot of the cross and surrender myself to Jesus, my Lord and Savior. I love You! And I believe that by Your grace, given to me through Jesus’ death and resurrection, my name is written in the Book of Life. I believe that I will live with You forever and always. Please help me live each day full of faith in ways that glorify Your holy name. Amen.
The LAB Notes add the following:
God’s judgment is finished. The lake of fire is the ultimate destination for everything wicked—satan, the beast, the false prophet, the demons, death, the grave, and all those whose names are not recorded in the Book of Life because they did not place their faith in Jesus.
Jesus is our assurance! He is the victorious King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the Savior of our souls.
Pause again today in faith, thank and praise the Father for the gift of Jesus, and surrender your life to Him in faith . . . that you might live completely assured that your name is written in the Book of Life.
On today’s note write:
By God’s grace, I have placed my faith in Jesus. My name is written in the Book of Life.
May God bless you today and fill you with the assurance that all His promises are true in Christ Jesus.
For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.
2 Corinthians 1:20
Happy New Year, Deb! I appreciate that each time satan appeared in this post you chose not to capitalize his name. I believe he is not worth it and can’t wait for his name to be written out of the book. Just sayin’
Blessing on blessing and grace upon grace to you and yours!
Marie
Thanks, Marie! I so appreciate your encouragement! Many blessings in the New Year!
I’m trying everyday and fall short…trying to remain strong in faith and not let the worldly “stuff” get to me…I started a new job which has tested me each and everyday and said the other day to my husband, “I don’t like who I am” with the job…stress will do that. Today I will make a note to remind myself to remain focused and give the day to the Lord and ask to be humbled as I navigate this new job. I have many blessings to be thankful for and need to keep my focus on the little things….I appreciate this teaching this AM! Thanks Deb.
You sound a lot like me Lily. Me too feel that each day I come up short…in loving God, having the desire spending time with Him. So many times I allow life’s activities to use up the precious time that I could spend in His Word. I don’t know what’s wrong with me…. There is a deep shame in my soul as He was Father to me through my life, guiding, loving, comforting. Yet I was in the truest sense His prodigal daughter….
Wishing you strenght, peace and patience in your new job. If you focus on Jesus then He’ll help you through the hurdle without you even realizing it 🙂
Thank you Gaby for the thoughtful reply. No doubt about it I am struggling to remain strong in His name and find I am questioning my faith and that is something I feel hurt about about myself. I’ve thought for the most part I’ve been a strong Christian woman, and now I find I have so many questions and not because I am rebellious, but more like…trying to understand how to navigate this turbulent sea where tyrants are running what feels like a bad sitcom. I’m sad so many are so divided with all the chaos in the world…if only we all could all come together in His name and fall away from man’s deceit, the world would be a better place. I will say, I am grateful to have my eyes opened to much of the “poison” in the pool and avoid going into the deep end…or for that matter, even wade in the shallows…no thank you. I’ll keep you in my prayers as I pray for the nation as a whole. Thanks again and many blessings! Hang in there. There’s power in numbers and in Jesus name.
We can all take such comfort knowing that our names are in the Lord’s Book of Life, Deb. Yes, I have days when I KNOW satan is trying his best to turn my heart and mind from God, but he is fighting a losing battle every time. It’s not fun going through these trials, but when I remember God is with me, I can make it through.
Blessings!
I love the way Mercy Me sings that it’s the Best News Ever! Being in Christ Jesus is the greatest gift ever!! I love your heart. You’re right, the trials are hard but I believe, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I didn’t always believe that but God has given me strength at times when I thought it was impossible. What an awesome God we love and serve!
You sound a lot like me Lily. Me too feel that each day I come up short…in loving God, having the desire spending time with Him. So many times I allow life’s activities to use up the precious time that I could spend in His Word. I don’t know what’s wrong with me…. There is a deep shame in my soul as He was Father to me through my life, guiding, loving, comforting. Yet I was in the truest sense His prodigal daughter….
Wishing you strenght, peace and patience in your new job. If you focus on Jesus then He’ll help you through the hurdle without you even realizing it 🙂
I have found myself coming up short recently, tonight as I prayed the prayer you had written, I asked for help to overcome these feelings. I need to live in His peace and love. Thank you Deb and I wish you a happy and healthy New Year.
I’m so glad you were blessed, Angela! Thanks so much for letting me know! Happy New Year to you as well!