A STUDY IN CONTRAST PART TWO

A study in contrasts Part Two

Jesus Christ is the Light. This is His Holiness and love. The darkness is fear and torment. Matthew 15:30. Look at all the different people with problems that went to Jesus Christ. "Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them, and healed them." Luke 4:40. Notice this verse says Jesus did not turn anyone down. He has compassion.

Satan does not have compassion. He torments. "And ought not this women, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day." Luke 13:16. The devil had no intention in releasing her from any pain or agony. In fact Satan desired to put Simon in knots. "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat." Luke 22:31. Did you ever see wheat being sifted?

Jesus desires to make us whole. Satan wants to tear us up. "But Jesus turned him about, and when He saw her, He said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the women was made whole from that hour." Matthew 9:22. So many people that were around Jesus when He walked on the earth knew and understood that they could become whole through Jesus Christ. "And besought Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole." Matthew 14:36.

Satan has a different motive and idea in mind. "Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you to pieces, and there be none to deliver." Psalm 50:22.

When Satan saw Jesus heal people in His name he must have been really upset. 1 Samuel 2:10 says, "The adversaries of the Lord shall be broke in pieces." He does not want anyone being made whole through Jesus Christ because he wants to destroy you. I can not even count the testimonies of people that went to hell, came back to tell their story and had a body part literally torn off of their body. That is what this Bible verse says so when real people explain what they saw and experienced and it matches the Word of God take this message serious.

If the Word of God is presented to you, the devil is right there to steal it from you so he can ultimately tear you up. "And theses are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediatly, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts." Mark 4:15.

Jesus loves people. The devil hates us. The Apostle Paul did a great job in portraying through the penned Word of the Holy Spirit how much God really does love us." Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:39. There is another side to this.

We are free in Jesus Christ. He gives us true riches. "In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." Ephesians 1:7. "But my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Jesus Christ." Phil 4:19. We are truly rich in Jesus Christ. As His children we do not know all the freedoms we have in Him.

If there is a remnant that is free in Jesus Christ then of course there are the masses in bondage. I only say this because the Bible teaches this horrible truth. "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leatheth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matthew 7:14. If a person gets confined to Hell, "His soul draws near the pit, and his life to the executioners." Job 33:22. "Let us swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down to the pit." Proverbs 1:12. A pit is not freedom but confinement.

There are so many examples I could probably give you but I will just show one more contrast. God gives us trials for the purpose of teaching His children His love for us but Satan persecutes us for the reason of defeating our spirit.

"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perished, though it tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 1:7. When we have faith in God through our trials this gives praise, honor and glory to Jesus Christ.

Satan has a different approach toward our trials. He tries to capitalize on them. "Above all, the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." Ephesians 6:16. As you can see we need to have strong faith in Jesus Christ because the devil is attacking our life.

These are some biblical facts of opposite contrasting truths. Jesus Christ is righteous and loves us so much that comprehension is impossible. Satan hates you and wants to confine your spirit in darkness. The choice is obvious. Jesus Christ should be our Savior and Lord.

After reading these contrasts our choice should be pretty clear. Accepting Jesus Christ and living for Him is my only choice. The other choice would be unthinkable. If I feel myself drifting away from God I always do my best to allow the Holy Spirit to bring me back into the yoke of Jesus Christ.

God bless you,

Bob D.