Fearless Servants

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, yet I wonder how many times the fear of things other than God is what moves us to take action or procrastinate endlessly.  Fear in us is as prevalent of consciousness as the aftermath of Adam and Eve's sin reveals.  After they sinned they hurriedly covered their nakedness under fig leaves because they were afraid to be exposed before God.  It seems they were not afraid of death at that stage because it was foreign to them, but their failure prompted them to cave to fear.

Last night I read the parable of the talents and the servants Jesus shared in Matthew 25.  Before going on a long journey, a master gave a significant sum to his servants each according to their ability.  Upon his return the good and faithful servants were pleased to reveal they had doubled the money provided them through trading.  There was one servant, however, who chose to dig a hole and bury the talent in the ground instead of utilising it for profit.

Upon examination by his master Matthew 25:24-25 reads, "Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. ²⁵ And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.'"  What struck me as I read this is it was fear which prompted the servant to bury the talent in the ground.  Then I wondered about what exactly he was afraid of?  It could have been a number of things I can identify with:  fear of failure, fear of not being as successful as the other servants, fear of making mistakes, fear of having to give away what he worked for, fear of responsibility, fear of wasted effort, and on the potential list goes.

What was the basis of the servant's fear?  One of the root causes was a lack of faith in the wisdom of his master.  The master gave to each servant according to his ability, and it seems the servant who received a talent (a Roman talent was about 32 kilos in weight - that's a lot of gold or silver!) did not trust his master's estimation of his abilities.  In his mind it was better to hand back to his master what was already his than risking failure and displeasing his master.  But his disobedience through inaction due to fear led to him doing exactly that. Matthew 25:26-27 says, "But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. ²⁷ So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest."  It was a lot of work to dig a hole and bury the talent in the ground, but it was the wrong sort of work:  the wicked servant dug a hole for himself out of fear from which he would never be free.

It is confronting to consider the riches God has given us through Christ Jesus and the meagre amount of increase due to my poor efforts.  God has filled us with the Holy Spirit and gifted each of us according to God's perfect will.  We must choose if we will let fear of failure due to unbelief or fear in God direct our steps as we seek God's glory.  Instead of being afraid we won't measure up, consider how God knows us and has promised to help us live a life that pleases God.  We trust God for our eternal salvation, so shouldn't we trust him to guide and empower us today?  All the servants in the parable had something in common:  without the talents given them by the master they had nothing, yet through his gracious provision they could make fruitful choices.  May the love of Jesus Christ for us dissolve all fears and doubts so we might live as God's good and faithful servants who are without fear.

The Dream of Redemption

I have a confession to make:  I'm not a big Elvis fan.  I have nothing against the late-great entertainer, but as a kid his music was played primarily on the "oldies" radio stations, the music my aunts and uncles blasted at family gatherings.  I appreciate his musical and singing talent, but admittedly I was never into his music.  Because I never owned one of his countless albums, there are a lot of songs I am unfamiliar with - like his famous "If I Can Dream."

I was driving and listening to ABC Radio recently and "If I Can Dream" was performed by Elvis with great passion and conviction.  I listened to the lyrics and was surprised by the shocking theology (or lack thereof):  "We're lost in a cloud with too much rain; we're trapped in a world that's troubled with pain. But as long as a man has the strength to dream he can redeem his soul and fly..."  What?  I was incredulous at the suggestion.  After arriving home I checked out the lyrics online to ensure I indeed heard correctly - that a man's strength to dream enables him to redeem his soul?  Where did that idea come from?  Not from the Bible - which is the only authority on the redemption of souls.

Man is no more capable of redeeming himself than he is able to conceive himself without mother or father.  Then there is the problem of sin as Proverbs 20:9 says:  "Who can say, "I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin"?"  If we cannot wash ourselves from the guilt of sin, how can we redeem ourselves from it?  God redeemed the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt with His mighty power as a gaal or kinsman redeemer.  Moses sang of the LORD's deliverance in Exodus 15:13: "You in Your mercy have led forth the people whom You have redeemed; You have guided them in Your strength to Your holy habitation."  Men talk of "redeeming themselves" but it is a broken cliche, for the redemption of souls is solely God's sovereign work by His grace.

Peter spoke to disciples of Jesus and explained how they were redeemed by the blood of Jesus in 1 Peter 1:18-21:  "...knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. ²⁰ He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you ²¹ who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God."  The right of redemption was reserved for a near-kinsman as Boaz was to Ruth, and Jesus Christ is the only One worthy among men whose blood is acceptable as the Lamb of God without blemish.  No amount of money, gold, silver, good works, or dreaming is able to redeem our souls from death:  redeeming us from the curse of the Law and granting us all the blessings of God.  Jesus alone can redeem, and to say anyone or anything else can is abominable blasphemy.

Man cannot fly unassisted, and he also cannot redeem his own soul - despite his grandest dreams.  The hope of redemption will remain a dream, a fantasy forever elusive without placing faith in Jesus Christ as LORD and Saviour.  This world remains in darkness and is inhabited by countless people who are lost, but Jesus is the Redeemer.  God can use being lost, trouble, and pain to draw us near to Himself.  Jesus went through excruciating pain to redeem our souls and grant us eternal life.  The prophet spoke the truth concerning the Messiah Jesus Christ in Isaiah 53:4-5:  "Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. ⁵ But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed."

We're All Gonna Die! :)

Los Angeles Rams lineman Andrew Whitworth raised some eyebrows when he spoke candidly with reporters after his team lost the Super Bowl to the New England Patriots:  "At the end of the day, you're all gonna die."  Death has a way of re-centring our perspective on what matters most.  It is a rare accomplishment to be part of a team which has earned the right to compete on a global stage, but win or lose no one can shed or wisely ignore their own mortality.  This is the natural conclusion King Solomon came to in Ecclesiastes 3:18-20:  "I said in my heart, "Concerning the condition of the sons of men, God tests them, that they may see that they themselves are like animals." ¹⁹ For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity. ²⁰ All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust."

Men are not animals - even if we choose to live like them - because God has created man in His own image.  God has put eternity in our hearts and also the ability to reason and communicate verbally as Andrew Whitworth did.  Knowing death is inevitable is one thing, but facing it with joy and peace is another thing.  I am grateful Jesus has conquered death and all who trust in Him need never fear death:  for disciples of Jesus it is not only an end but a glorious new beginning.  I am having a minor surgery Friday, and I am glad to say I am prepared to God-willing preach this coming Sunday or I have (unknown to me!) already delivered my final sermon.  It was a gnawing fear of death which convinced John Wesley he was not actually born again - despite his travelling to America as a missionary and his clean living.  What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?

At the end of the day - and at a time we likely will not expect or predict - we're all going to die.  This knowledge will impact the way we live and is a healthy perspective to maintain.  Believers in Jesus have already died, and our life is hid in Christ because He is our life.  Colossians 3:1-4 says, "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. ² Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. ³ For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory."  Praise the LORD for eternal life and the glorious future which is ours in Christ!

Nevertheless Obedience

"When He [Jesus] had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." ⁵ But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net."

Luke 5:4-5

Peter and his fellow fisherman had toiled all night long for a catch and caught nothing.  These men were not casual fishermen who knew little but were seasoned professionals who knew the best times, the location of secret spots, and owned quality equipment to ensure success.  Over and over they cast out their nets only to pull them in completely empty.  Under the cover of darkness they moved the boat and tried again.  Empty.  Finally after fishing all night, they called it quits and headed back to shore to clean up.  They worked to wash the nets of debris and weeds which were caught in the net.  Then Jesus arrived at the water's edge and taught the people from Peter's boat.

After Jesus preached, He bid Peter to launch out and lower the nets for a catch.  Under normal circumstances, Peter wouldn't have bothered.  If he had been unsuccessful all night, how could the bright and hot conditions improve his chances?  Simon Peter reluctantly (but wisely!) answered after toiling all night and catching nothing, "Nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net."  Luke 5:6-7 describes what happened after Peter and his fishing buddies obeyed:  "And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. ⁷ So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink."  The primary lesson from this portion is not to make fishing in the heat of the day the pattern for success and fruitfulness, but to obey Jesus because He is the LORD.

A lot of what passes for Christian ministry consists of following programs and patterns which have been successful in the past.  How important it is to be led by Jesus as we minister unto Him!  Sometimes Jesus will have us do something which seems unlikely to be practical, effective, or fruitful, but because He directed us obedience to Him makes all the difference.  The children of Israel were commanded to daily circle Jericho silently, and on the seventh day make seven circuits around the city and shout:  it was not until they were completely obedient God wrought a great victory.  Naaman the Syrian was directed to dip seven times in the Jordan, and it was not until he rose the seventh time from the water he was healed of his leprosy.  Doing what Jesus asked seemed an exercise in futility, but it was an opportunity to exercise faith in Jesus - and for Jesus to prove His divine power and grace.

Are you willing to exercise "nevertheless" obedience - to do something where there seems little to no chance of success based on past experience - just because Jesus told you to?  When we obey God's Word as led by the Holy Spirit, God graciously moves in wonderful and miraculous ways.  We are not called to "hope for the best" or to "try and try again" but to trust and obey Jesus.  Wine was needed, and when Jesus directed the servants to fill large pots with water his mother Mary wisely said, "Whatever He says, do it."  That water was miraculously changed into the finest wine.  Those servants had likely filled plenty of pots in their day, but being directed by Jesus made the difference.  What would He have you do today?

Where's the Love?

Whilst ironing shirts yesterday I multi-tasked watching the science-fiction classic produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick:  2001: A Space Odyssey.  It is by modern sensibilities an incredibly slow film - I mean, who ever heard of beginning a movie with minutes of black screen?  Hearing the score took me back to when I took "music listening" in university (amazing, I know) and being introduced to "Also Sprach Zarathustra" by Richard Strauss.

During this viewing I was struck with the "Dawn of Man" segment of the film.  Image after image shows a desolate, barren land.  Birds are heard and people dressed as primates portrays man's predecessors loosely according to Darwinian evolution.  I wonder if the writers of the film ever read G.K. Chesterton's book The Everlasting Man...but I digress.  These squatting, grunting, primates, fiercely protective of the scrubby plants they claimed, are supposedly our bone-swinging ancestors.  They had the sense, developed over time, to notice and take interest in a black obelisk which suddenly appeared near their cave.  I am amazed the fact all manner of life teems on this planet does not provoke the curiosity and awe today of sensible human beings.  We are a living, breathing, thinking type of obelisk created and planted on earth in the image of the God who created us, evidence we have been made by an all-powerful and intelligent being who speaks, hears, knows, and loves.

Yes, that is right:  loves.  In the film the savage primates hoot, shriek, gnaw, and kill - and man's violent tendencies and selfishness does not improve with time.  Man created computers who malfunctioned and killed, and man bent on self-preservation shut down all threats.  A purely naturalistic explanation of origins cannot explain how love arose from those violent savages who brutalised one another to the death in primitive turf battles.  The evolutionary worldview absolutely deifies and celebrates death, for it is the only path towards advancement.  And the film (honest men too) struggle under the weight there must be something or someone greater and more advanced than man to help the process along from time to time:  benevolent but distant; unknown to men but longed for; dangerous but to be pursued at great cost.

In the film scientists and doctors travelled great distances through space to examine evidence of extraterrestrial life, and the irony is God has revealed Himself in the Bible as transcendent of all space and time. His glory fills the heavens and reaches far beyond life on the earth, yet man largely remains unmoved at the revelation.  We search the heavens for evidence of life but we think very little of the life all around us.  In the film primate shouted in fear and shock at the unnatural black obelisk planted in barren soil and we blindly assume life on earth must have occurred without a thought.  Romans 1:20-23 speaks the truth exquisitely:  "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, ²¹ because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Professing to be wise, they became fools, ²³ and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things."

Man has done amazing feats on land, under water, and in space - and not without help.  God has graciously helped us to live, think, know, and discover a great many things about this world He has made, and yet He remains to many unknown, unwanted, and unnecessary.  We deserve to be regarded as such in the light of God's glory, but He loves us with an everlasting love which reaches back before the heavens and earth were created.  When we glorify and acknowledge God for who He is we begin to lay hold of His wisdom and experience His love.  There is an irreconcilable difference between all other living creatures on earth and mankind, for God has made us in His image with a moral conscience, a will beyond instinct, and knowledge.  Jesus, the everlasting man of whom G.K. Chesterton and the Bible speaks, is irreconcilably beyond mortal men as God made flesh.  He is the source of all life, and He gives everlasting life to all who trust in Him as LORD and Saviour.  How good it is to be loved by Him!

Erring in All

God has purposes He will accomplish in countless ways.  One of these was a surprise to me:  the seemingly incompetence of government.  I am not suggesting decisions which are proved inept or foolish have God as a cause, but there is often a correlation between rebelling against God and people being afraid, confused, perverse, deluded, and deceived.

See what God said concerning Egypt before the Babylonians defeated Assyria and Egypt in Isaiah 19:12-14:  "Where are they? Where are your wise men? Let them tell you now, and let them know what the LORD of hosts has purposed against Egypt. ¹³ The princes of Zoan have become fools; the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also deluded Egypt, those who are the mainstay of its tribes. ¹⁴ The LORD has mingled a perverse spirit in her midst; and they have caused Egypt to err in all her work, as a drunken man staggers in his vomit."  This is not a pretty picture.  God determined to mingle and perverse spirit in Egypt, and "they" caused Egypt to "err in all her work."

Remarkable how God brought the folly of nations and rulers upon their own heads!  They would not fear God, so they would fear enemies who were mightier than they.  A drunken man staggering in his vomit is a horrendous simile of the ineptitude of the governors and advisers because of the mingled spirits in their midst.  How dependant this fate should make God's people upon Him - though we live in nations filled with confusion, perversion, and deception.  A drunk man struggles to remain alert and even balance to stand, and pride brings the same result upon perfectly sane people today.  Intoxicated with wealth, fame, and power, confusion and ineptitude reign.

How this brings to life the spiritual forces at work in the world today as spoken by Paul in Ephesians 6:10-12:  "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."  It is easy to point fingers at politicians, but who can oppose the perverse spirits of wickedness in the world without Jesus Christ?  He is the One who gives the Holy Spirit to guard, empower, and help believers.  Without God we would be completely without wisdom or discernment in the most basic details.

Praise the LORD He is good and His mercy endures forever!  There is hope for the nations and people today - not in better legislation, policies, or programs - but through the fear of God and obedience to Him.  It is not against flesh and blood we wrestle, but often against powers we cannot recognise without God's aid.  Without the wisdom and strength of God we too would err in all.  Only God provides the defence we need, the ability to walk in victory, and the light of His wisdom, love, and grace.

The Burning Question

It's both curious and tragic to me how people allow questions to hinder them heeding and receiving the truth God has revealed in His Word.  It seems people imagine it is feasible, in exchange for a pledge of loyalty or belief (as if they are doing God a favour), that God satisfy their demands according to their ignorance.  I don't want to be sharp and cutting, but I will be blunt:  do not allow what you do not or cannot know blind you to God's proclaimed truth.  Often we ask the wrong questions anyway.

As I was doing yard work this morning, it occurred to me the variety of questions people pose now vary, but every soul damned to hell for their sin will have one burning question:  why didn't I believe Jesus when I had the chance?  One of the great torments of hell is intense, nagging regret in light of God's reality and the knowledge of salvation was freely offered to you during your life on earth.  The cautionary tale Jesus told of the rich man and Lazarus shows by the statements of the rich man in torment that he remembered his brothers; he remembered the luxuries of his old life.  Whilst the rich man was tormented, Lazarus was comforted.

We all have regrets - things we wish we had done or said differently.  Memories of past failures can be beneficial as they remind us to do better in the future.  However, this luxury of "doing better in the future" is not be extended to those who burn in the lake of fire:  their doomed future is sealed by their own sin, unbelief, and refusal of the Gospel.  During their life they preferred darkness over the Light of the World Jesus Christ, and so into outer darkness they will be cast forever into an ocean of inescapable regret.  I do not know that people will blame God or even the devil for their plight, for in their inmost being their conscience will acknowledge in the light of God's revealed glory they alone are to blame.  The self-loathing people experience today will be nothing compared to their future in hell.  The question, "Why, why, why didn't I listen?" will burn in the souls and minds of the damned as long as hellfire does.  For all eternity, in light of what will be revealed, a satisfactory answer will never be found.

There is hope for those who will come to Jesus today in repentance and faith.  The unceasing torment of hell can be exchanged for the comfort, joy, and peace of the presence of God through the price beyond measure Jesus Christ paid on Calvary.  This is the Gospel truth all can enter into by God's grace through faith.  Cling to your questions if you like, but they cannot save you.  Even if God should rend the heavens and answer your questions, I expect His words would not satisfy - not being mixed with faith in you.  Are you willing to come to Jesus that you might be saved?  He does not need you, but if you will be saved from yourself you must relinquish all to Him.  Instead of hiding behind vain questions, why don't you trust Jesus?

Selective Hearing (and Believing!)

When the children of Israel reached the border of the land God promised to give them, they sent 12 men into the land for 40 days as spies.  They brought back fruit from the land a report that the region truly flowed with milk and honey as God had said.  But 10 of the spies brought back a damning report and asserted they were unable to enter the land because of the inhabitants.  They said in Numbers 13:28-29, "Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there. ²⁹ The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan."  Though God brought the children out of Egypt and through the Red Sea with signs, wonders, and a mighty hand, they faltered at the sight of those who dwelt in the land God promised.

It seems the spies and people who mourned the bad report assumed the land would be gifted to them without needing to exercise a degree of faith in God!  Their hysterical grief and refusal to trust God after being "tricked" to leave Egypt "because there weren't enough graves there for them" suggests they did not listen to the promise God had given them.  Notice the repetition of God's word to Moses, and how He mentioned again and again the many inhabitants of the land He would give them:

• Exodus 3:8:  "So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites."
• Exodus 3:17:  "...and I have said I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey."
• Later after instituting the Passover, God said in Exodus 13:5, "And it shall be, when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep this service in this month."

Overall the Israelites were pleased to be free from bondage in Egypt, but they faltered when they discovered there were strong fortifications and mighty people in the land.  They had joyfully travelled to the promised land thinking of milk, honey, and fruit but forgot what God had promised:  there were many people in the land and the almighty God swore to bring them in.  This selective hearing and believing bears a resemblance to us at times, doesn't it?  We might come to Jesus desiring peace and rest, and when there is tribulation and trials we wonder how such things could befall a child of God!  Jesus promised in this world we will have tribulation but to be of good cheer because He has overcome.  Peter later wrote to Christians in 1 Peter 4:12-13, "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; ¹³ but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy."

God does not trick us with disclaimers and caveats in fine print, but He will allow circumstances to unfold which test our faith in ways we did not expect.  The problem begins for us when we do not heed God's Word and when we refuse to trust Him, looking to ourselves rather than Him.  Our flesh rebels against a life of faith, justifying we are right to mourn because of the giants in the land:  we didn't sign up for this!  But Caleb and Joshua maintained the correct and godly perspective, that their enemies would be as bread easily consumed.  Have you ever been intimidated by a loaf of bread?  I haven't.  Sliced bread makes a great sandwich and when it grows mould it is easily chucked in the bin.  In Sydney we have to take special precautions with our bread because of the heat and humidity and without special care will go mouldy in days!

Let's be those who trust God and heed His Word.  When our expectations are dashed because of our selective hearing or believing, let's choose to look to God who is greater than any giant, can level any stronghold, and will keep His promises without fail.

Kept Night and Day

"In that day sing to her, "A vineyard of red wine! ³ I, the LORD, keep it, I water it every moment; lest any hurt it, I keep it night and day."

Isaiah 27:2-3

Many times in the Old Testament the nation Israel is compared to a vineyard.  The day spoken of here is after Jesus defeats Satan and establishes His throne over all.  God chose Israel as His inheritance, and His eyes are always upon His people for good.  He caused the nation of Israel to flourish, and even now offers Living Water to all who come to Him and drink.

When a vineyard was planted, the wine dresser took many steps to ensure it was fenced, guarded, irrigated, and carefully pruned to be more fruitful.  There are many varieties of grapes which produce wine, and in this passage Israel is compared to a vineyard which would produce red wine.  Night and day God remains vigilant to protect and provide for the needs of His people.  Under the New Covenant ushered in through the shed blood of Jesus, He has purchased other sheep (Gentiles) who are adopted into the family of God by the Gospel of grace.  But His eyes are on Israel still, and will not disinherit them.

As I read this text this morning, it reminded me of Naboth who treasured his own inheritance provided by God, land passed down through generations.  King Ahab desired the vineyard of Naboth because it was close to his residence and wanted it for a garden of herbs.  He offered a better vineyard in return or the agreed cash value.  Naboth's response could not have been more clear in 1 Kings 21:3:  "But Naboth said to Ahab, "The LORD forbid that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you!"  Naboth refused to sell the inheritance he treasured, and God will not part with Israel His vineyard either.

King Ahab ended up with the vineyard through his wicked and crafty wife Jezebel.  She organised false witnesses to claim Naboth blasphemed against God and the king - interestingly the same false accusations levelled against Jesus!  Naboth was stoned for his vineyard, and Jesus was crucified for the sins of the world.  After the death of Naboth the prophet Elijah was sent by God to prophesy against Ahab as he took possession of the vineyard - and Jezebel too.  God has prophesied death and destruction upon Satan for his crimes:  the anti-Christ and Satan that old serpent will one day be utterly destroyed for their wickedness.

How good God is to His people, to willingly die so we might live!  The LORD keeps His vineyard, and He keeps followers of Jesus night and day.  By faith we are grafted into the Vine who is Jesus.  1 Peter 1:3-5 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."  Our hope is a living hope in Christ and we are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation.  Night and day we are safe in His hands for all who are in Christ are His chosen inheritance.