Rebel Planet

This morning I read about the day we became a rebel planet.  It was the day a crafty snake convinced a man and his wife to pursue being like God apart from the very instruction of that God.  He stirred doubt and confusion in their hearts with words like, "Did God really say...?"  This cunning serpent suggested that God was somehow holding out on this couple, and that there was a better way, a way for them to really know things.  It just wasn't God's way.  They ate the forbidden fruit and mankind fell.

Though mankind has fallen to the deception of the serpent, the awesome plan of God continues to unfold.  Throughout the pages of Scripture, the Sovereign God of the universe will advance His kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy, while the lesser, albeit crafty, enemy wreaks destruction and wickedness on our rebel planet.  God will win the day (and if you're a Christian, you know He already has)!

Still, the enemy who opposed the rule and reign of God that day is real.  His deceptive, slippery words are still crafted to stir doubt in the very ones God is commissioning to bless the earth.  If he can continue to convince the chosen ambassadors of God's kingdom to act outside of their commission, to violate the word of their Maker - if he can break the trust and relationship between man and his Lord - then this antagonist could destroy the plans of this God he so hates.  Or so he thinks.

Today, although the Deceiver may beckon with alluring words that drip with rebellion, our Creator King is extending a call through His ambassadors that rings across the rebel planet:  "Grace to you and peace from God our Father!"  Could this be true?  Could God really be extending peace to the rebels?  Could His favor once again rest on a fallen race?  This is the gospel message of hope to a deceived and dying world.  I pray that the church across my city, my nation, and my world will resound with this good news!