Satan’s Fate Isn’t Glamorous
What a needed reminder!
I am not teaching on Sunday mornings right now. In 2013, Lebanon Road started a rotation of teachers in our adult classes, and I have this quarter off of teaching. (If memory serves, this is my first quarter off since August of 1999.)
I am attending a class taught by one of our deacons. We are learning more about our enemy, Satan. Our teacher, Tim, is doing a great job with a very difficult subject. I am learning so much, and being reminded of some much-needed information.
Yesterday, we learned a lot, but one fact has been in my mind and really causing me to think. It is the destiny of Satan. Often, because we see this in art and movies, we picture the devil rubbing his hands together and smiling slyly in delight as he is so proud of what he has accomplished. He is happily ruling in Hell for eternity.
That is not how the story will end for Satan.
Instead of this “happy leader of hell” picture we might have in our mind, we need to remember that Satan’s fate is eternal punishment, just as is the fate of all who will be in hell eternally. He will be a prisoner, crying and suffering forever.
When Jesus said that hell was “prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41), the Lord was not saying that Satan got to pick out the curtains for some fire-palace. Instead, Jesus was teaching that this was the place prepared to punish the archenemy of an Almighty God.
Satan, too, will weep and gnash teeth.
Satan, too, will know the fire that is not quenched.
Satan, too, will be in that place of outer darkness.
Satan, too, will suffer eternally.
And Satan, too, will look back on missed opportunities.
Christian, we need to remember that, when we choose to sin, we are risking being in that awful place forever. We are risking being with the ultimate loser, Satan.
May we remember that, when we are with Christ, we are not on the winning team; we are on the team that has already won!
When we consider the fate of our enemy, Satan, may it spur us on to greater faithfulness so that we don’t have to spend eternity suffering with him.
QUESTION: Why do we sometimes picture Satan “enjoying” hell?
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Photo credit: Bert Cash on Creative Commons
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