Paradise⤒🔗

From within our broken existence we look back at paradise and we marvel: peace with God and peace with one another. God saw all that He had made and behold it was very good. Adam and Eve beheld one another, nakedness and all, but they did not feel ashamed towards one another.

Rebellion in Heaven←⤒🔗

Enmity makes its debut in heaven. At the instigation of one of their own (Satan, which means “opponent”), a number of angels deny their origins (Jude 1:6). Despite the fact that he is a mere creature, Satan no longer wishes to obey his Creator. We know Satan also as the dragon from Revelation 12, whose tail draws a third of the stars and throws them to the earth. Some commentators interpret this to point to the number of angels following Satan in his rebellion. Given Satan’s nature (for according to 2 Corinthians 2:11 we are not ignorant of his thoughts), it would certainly have been his intention to snatch all God’s angels away from Him. This strategy however fails and many heavenly minions remain faithful to God.

Revolution on Earth←⤒🔗

Not satisfied with this, Satan directs his efforts to the earth, where two people live in paradise. Through his tempting, Satan manages to win first Eve and through her also Adam over to his side. Adam held a very special position: head of all mankind. He represented all those who would follow in his lineage (Romans 5:12). So that includes you and I. Owing to the fall into sin, enmity comes into existence, an enmity not set by God, but wittingly and willingly chosen by man. God on one side and over against Him: Satan plus mankind. The battle lines are drawn, in as much as that depends on man.

God’s Surprise←⤒🔗

Thank God, the continuation of history does not depend on man. God comes looking for man (Belgic Confession Art. 17) and He wrests him away from Satan. Why? In wonderful wisdom and goodness He resolves to show mercy. God demonstrates love for His enemies, when He decides to set enmity, entirely different: Satan and his seed on the one side and the seed of the woman on the other, an enmity, which would culminate in victory for the seed of the woman. The Covenant of Grace we call it, because God has every reason to do otherwise (Canons of Dort Chapter I, art 1).

Sin remains so Strong←⤒🔗

However, God’s covenant partner no longer is the good man from paradise. Sin is in his nature and the devil tries to win him back to his side. Time and again God calls. Over and again, He makes a new beginning, but every time sin spoils everything. We mention by way of illustration (though incomplete and without further application): Cain/Abel/Seth. From that new beginning only Noah remains on God’s side. Short on the heels of the flood, sin makes itself known all over again. Through countless sins, a nation arises from the patriarchs, but that nation ends up in Egypt, a prison which has all the hallmarks of hell. God leads them out and despite a myriad of sins, they arrive in the promised land, only to be expelled again on account of their repeated choices in opposition to the God of their salvation.  The historical books and prophetic writings are full of it, how God’s people choose the wrong side, break God’s covenant of love and of their own volition submit themselves to slavery under Satan.

A Gift from Heaven←⤒🔗

Yet, God continues to speak words, which offer hope and perspective. Messianic prophesies and promises of blessedness, which all stem from God’s initial word in Genesis 3:15. The head of the serpent will be crushed. God is so unbelievably faithful that He offers up His own Son (John 3:16). Christ is going to take the place of Adam, not in a paradise, but in the desert of this sin-stained world. Not with that good body which Adam still possessed in paradise, but with a body in the likeness of sinful flesh (Romans 8:3). All enmity against God, all sin, all resistance, He takes upon Himself, bringing it to the cross (1 Peter 2:24). At least, insofar as it concerns mankind. God does not show His mercy to the (fallen) angels, but He does show grace to the offspring of Abraham, the lost sons and daughters of the covenant (Hebrews 2:16). For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16)

Perfect←⤒🔗

Christ alone stands on God’s side with complete dedication, choosing every time anew against Satan. Satan has no grip on Him, thanks to His perfect obedience. Our Lord is faithful unto death.  He suffers and dies alone. Even His disciples have deserted Him. That, which man was unable to do, Christ does: resist Satan and triumph over him. And when, upon His victory over Satan, He rises from the grave, even then He remains alone in His triumph. But He is not to remain so, for it is God’s purpose to bring many sons and daughters to glory (Hebrews 2:10)

Know who You are←⤒🔗

The great enemy was defeated by Christ, but that does not mean that he is no longer able to lay hold of his victims amongst us. Our children are sanctified in Christ. But we confess at baptism that they are conceived and born in sin, unable to enter the kingdom of God unless they are born again. At baptism God declares: I put enmity between Satan and this child. This child belongs to me. I put you on my side. My name is written on your forehead in indelible water. But as you grow up, I do demand faith and repentance. For whoever defects to, or collaborates with the enemy, forfeits his citizenship in the kingdom of heaven. He will be expelled and surrendered to Satan. Only through faith in Christ are we more than conquerors.

We’re not There Yet←⤒🔗

Despite that mighty deed from God’s side, we are not yet rid of the enemy. On the contrary, the devil will pull out all stops to try and get us back and to render our baptism of no effect. He is aided by two powerful allies: the world which follows and serves him, en the sinful nature with which God’s children must contend their whole life long. It was not for nothing that the Lord Jesus taught us to pray: Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.  You can read for yourself in Lord’s Day 52 of the Heidelberg Catechism what these words mean. If Adam with his perfect body in an unblemished paradise could be tempted by Satan, how much more then are we in constant danger of being swept away by him. Make no mistake. The devil definitely has no fear of you (1 Peter 5:8)

There is Only One←⤒🔗

There is only one for whom the devil makes way, only one over whom the devil holds no sway. Lord where then do I turn? To you alone! The only way of escape is to take refuge in the Lord Jesus Christ. Believe in Him, cling to Him, for that is what true faith does, as we confess in Art 22 of the Belgic Confession. The Holy Spirit kindles in our hearts a true faith, which embraces Christ and all His benefits. Note that most intimate term: embrace. That has to do with love, with an intimate relationship. Only in such a loving relationship with God, can you resist the devil (James 4:7). Apart from Christ you will inescapably be drawn into Satan’s grip again.

Loving Relationship←⤒🔗

That loving relationship is worked by the Holy Spirit, through rebirth. When Christ powerfully penetrates your life, He will occupy your heart such that you no longer live for yourself, but that Christ rules in you (Gal 2:20). Then you will remain as a branch on the vine (John 15:1-8), a member of the body of Christ (1Corinthians 12:12,13). Whoever then is in Christ, is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). In His power I will more and more put to death the old man, giving rise to the new, as we confess in Lord’s Day 33 of the Heidelberg Catechism. Enmity will be overcome in Christ alone. We are conquerors only in Him and never in ourselves (Romans 8:37-39).

By Way of the Desert←⤒🔗

We will not reach perfection in this life. Whoever wants to know what we believe and confess about that, will find it in the fifth chapter of the Canons of Dort. Sin, Satan, my own self, they no longer rule over my heart. They exercise control over me no longer. But they do remain and often catch hold of me. What incomprehensible wonder then, that God works repentance in my heart and for the sake of Christ forgives me many more times than seventy times seven. When I, with empty hands, with besmirched hands go to Christ and embrace him, then He does not become unclean because of me, but I become clean in Him. For God will certainly complete His work in me.

To the Promised Land←⤒🔗

From within our broken existence, we look in awe, towards the great return of Christ, the coming of the New Heaven and the New Earth: peace with God and peace with one another. Without any notion of enmity, for death will be no longer. Neither Satan nor sin will ever enter there. What encouragement, despite everything, to go on in this life, loving Him who loved us first. At the wedding feast of the Lamb, the bride will appear radiant and unstained and celebrations will know no end.