Why does God allow Satan to live?

if God is sovereign then it's clear that he could destroy Satan at any time why does God allow Satan to live that is one of the questions that I try to answer in the book that's not just on top of the book that's right at the heart of the book but before I answer it let's make sure that we agree that it's true that God could take him out any time he chose because I think there's some who would say he really can't because rights or Authority or independence or freewill that Satan has but the reason I know he can take him out without turning me into an automaton or breaking any rules is could he's gonna take him out he's gonna throw him into the lake of fire the question is why didn't he do it yesterday if he had done it yesterday I wouldn't be tempted to where I am today and the mobsters lead me not into temptation well the best way not to be led into temptation is to take the temperature away isn't it take him out I've got sin in my life of a plenty to get me to have a struggle I don't need Satan on top of this sin that I have to make my life miserable so God take him out because you have a right to take him out you have the power to take him out you're doing nobody wrong when you take him out take him out and he doesn't do why no the Bible doesn't answer why directly and so it's kind of inferences that we go on but here's my best shot God has ordained that Satan have a long leash with God holding onto the leash because he knows that when we walk in and out of those temptations struggling both with the physical effects that they bring in the moral effects that they bring more of God's glory will shine in that battle then if he took him out yesterday there will be evidences of God's patience with us as we struggle with sin evidences of his mercy to us as we struggle with sin evidences of his sustaining grace through horrific physical suffering that Satan was the immediate cause of says that in the Bible sake this this woman was struck by Satan for what 18 years she had this bent over back and Satan was doing it God was ordaining that he'd be allowed to do it and all of that that the glory of God his mercy is justice his grace his wisdom would shine more brightly and we can argue with that we can say I don't agree I don't think God should run the world this way and if we ultimately disagree then we will reject God will reject the biblical testimony and we will perish forever in hell and I choose to trust him that his way of managing the devil and managing evil that comes at me is wiser than the way I might choose to manage it and perhaps the other thing I should say is that he sent his he send his son right into the middle of this satanic warfare and it was Satan that put it in the heart of Judas to betray him so Jesus exposes himself to the horrors of Satan's deceit and lie and murder he's a murderer from the beginning and a liar and dies in order it says in Colossians 2:15 to make a public display of the principalities and powers in his defeat of them there is more glory that will come to Jesus Christ because of suffering to destroy Satan then powerfully shooting Satan in the head and there's more glory that will come to Jesus Christ by our sharing in the sufferings of Christ holding on to his supreme value than if we had been able to say Satan depart and never have enough of the problem never have another problem and I think the reason for that this is my ultimate final answer I think the reason for that is the glory of God shines most brightly the glory of Christ shines most brightly when we are seen to be supremely satisfied in Christ in spite of Satan's torments which exist rather than having those torments removed and liking Jesus because of it it's when you love Jesus in spite of it and through it that his glory shines the most brightly rather than when we have life made easier for us by his removal and we like Jesus because

Channel: Desiring God

Views: 201,922

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Keywords: John Piper, Desiring God, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Christian, Christianity, Church, Bible, Jesus Christ, God, Scripture, Ask Pastor John, DGapj

Id: c-WsiKGsrmk

Length: 5min 39sec (339 seconds)

Published: Wed May 22 2013