What a Great Debate!
No, not the one tonight in Cleveland, I’m talking about the one that took place a long time ago, and although there was a landslide winner, in certain ways and in certain minds, that debate is still ongoing. And tonight’s debate? Well, despite what zealous followers might be claiming, neither Joe Biden nor Donald Trump is Jesus, nor is either Satan.
That’s right; I’m talking about Satan coming after Jesus in the wilderness following Jesus’ baptism. I guess we could say (although not spiritually or doctrinally) that this fell under the
idiomatic heading of a “baptism of fire.” Jesus had fasted for forty days and forty nights, and here came Ole Slewfoot, tempting Jesus with food, fame and fortune, even trying to use Scripture on Jesus. What a foolish debating tactic that was! Talk about crossing swords with the Master!
“If you’re God, command these stones to be turned into bread.” (My loose translation.) “Cast Thyself down, for it is written… God will send His angels and bear you up.” “Fall down and worship me, and I will give you all the kingdoms of the world.” Pretty lame of Satan when you think of it, and Jesus was ready with Scripture, properly quoted and interpreted to refute the ultimate fool. Matthew 4:4 (KJV) “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:7 (KJV) “Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” Matthew 4:10 (KJV) “Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”
Pretty basic from Jesus, and all perfectly Scriptural: “I’m living by the Word of God, I’m not jumping off a wall to tempt the promises of God capriciously, and I don’t worship you under any conditions! Get out of My face!” (And, me speaking personally, I don’t believe for a second that it was within Satan’s power to give Jesus the kingdoms of the world – they’re all ultimately under the power of a Triune God.) Daniel 4:17 “This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” Daniel 4:25 “That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. Daniel 4:32 “And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.”
Satan, and some theologians, must be fact-checked constantly. After all, he is a liar, and the father of it. (John 8:44) Yes, that was the real Great Debate. Tonight’s will be a big one as well, for there is a lot on the line for America in this election, and I’ll be tuning in. But my eternal salvation isn’t resting on the outcome of Trump-Biden, nor do the various polls mean a thing to me. I have put my trust in the landslide winner of that debate some 2,000 years ago, and the results are in, counted, certified, and validated, and Satan can’t dig up anything in the trunk of his car to change what Jesus has sealed with His own blood! “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31) “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.” (Rom 8:33)
That debate is history! Praise the LORD!
Love to all,
Pastor