Have you ever wondered why Jesus granted the demons their request in
Luke 8:26-39? Do you wish that wicked people will just disappear or be
destroyed? As much as one would like that, it happens not to be God’s
best for them. This article reveals Christ’s best for them.
When
he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice
said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I
beg You, do not torment me! Now a herd of many swine was feeding there
on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter
them. And He permitted them – Luke 8:28, 32 (NKJV).
But I say to
you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who
hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise
on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the
unjust – Matthew 5:44-45 (NKJV).
Why would Jesus permit the
demon’s request? Jesus granted the demons their request because He is
love, He is not them or like them. It is God’s nature to be good.
Surely, their time for punishment and torment is certain and will surely
come, and anyone who chooses to remain with them will suffer with them
then. However, here Jesus showed us an example to follow. If Christ
didn’t torment them, why should we His children ask that other human
beings be tormented? This example of Jesus helped me to understand how
Matthew 5: 44-45 can be applied to a witch, wizard, or oppressors, etc.
God
expects you to be like Jesus: to love your enemies, bless those who
curse you, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who spitefully
use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in
heaven. In essence, not obeying this instruction makes your sonship
questionable.
You are above those in darkness; you have no need to
fear them. They can’t do anything to you. Only those who fear are
tormented, for fear has torments and those who fear have not been made
perfect in love (1 John 4:18). You are to know the word of God and be
prayerful. Be convinced of your position in Christ, knowing that greater
is He that is in you than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4); again,
if God is for you who can be against you (Romans 8:31). You are to walk
in the knowledge of the truth. Read more...