Polar Extremes

The goodness of God stands in direct opposition to evil, not as passive opposition but active restraint, without which evil would run rampant. Goodness and evil are polar extremes. When we contemplate the holiness of God, we must consider the extremity of His sovereignty, immense power, absolute truth and uncompromising judgement. The most extreme opposition to immorality can be found in the profound intersection of immeasurable love, mercy, power and justice at the cross.

There is extreme contrast between God and Satan that is reflected in scripture and evident and observable in the physical world. While God is the God of order (1 Corinthians 14:33), Satan breeds disorder. These paradoxical positions can be depicted as light and darkness. We can choose to walk in darkness or in light. Psalm 119:105 states, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

Isaiah wrote, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” (Isaiah 9:2). And 1 John 1:5 says, “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.” Furthermore, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12).

Additionally, John 3:19-21 reveals, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.  Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it can be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”

The Bible tells us that we live in a fallen world. It is a dark world. Isaiah 60:2a says, “See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples,” and Isaiah 8:22 reads, “Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness.”

Darkness is everywhere. It is static, stagnant and passive. Metaphorically speaking, darkness facilitates deception by concealing motives. However, darkness cannot displace light. Light displaces dark. Light penetrates the shadows and dissipates darkness.

The apostle Paul writes, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” (Ephesians 5:8-11).

ONGOING TENSION BETWEEN PEACE AND ANARCHY

The fact that society is prone to falling into disorder is evidenced by the need for police forces. The battles between good and evil in spiritual realms are expressed physically as the ongoing tension between peace and anarchy. Seeds of discord are constantly being sown among each new crop of benevolence to produce weeds that manifest as lawlessness.

Jesus provides insight into this phenomenon through the Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43). Good and evil are permitted to coexist until the harvest at the end of the age, so that no good souls are lost. 2 Peter 3:9 adds perspective to this notion: “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Christ demonstrates God’s willingness to handle human nature with kid gloves through his gentleness and His empathetic and uncoercive persuasiveness. In Matthew 11:28-30, He extends an invitation to those who carry the weight of sin, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

The polar extreme of Christ’s humility is revealed in Lucifer’s pride. Ezekiel 28:17 discloses how this arrogant angel was cast to the earth: “Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.”

And Isaiah 14:12-14 records confirmation of Satan’s vanity. “How far you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’”

SATAN STANDS DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED TO THE CHARACTER OF GOD

Satan stands diametrically opposed to the character of God and remains jealous of Jesus Christ who has been given power and dominion over all of creation. The Bible prophesies how the man of lawlessness will rise to power during the last days. This will be Satan’s final attempt to become the undisputed sovereign over the earth as he will vicariously rule through his protégé, the antichrist.

Revelation 13 depicts him as a savage that will be given great power and authority. “The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander His name and His dwelling place and those who live in heaven.

It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast – all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world. He who has ears, let them hear.” (Revelation 13:5-9).

Talk about a power trip! Satan has been coveting the role of the Messiah ever since he was thrown to the earth. Even after the resurrection of Christ, he still has the audacity to carry his rebellion to the extreme that is predicted in God’s word. Satan will mimic everything prophesied about Jesus down to the tiniest detail and civilization will embrace the antichrist as the savior of the world.

The prophet Daniel wrote in the 6^th century BC, “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the ancient of days and was taken into His presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshipped Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13-14).

Jesus affirmed this prophecy was written about Him when He was asked by the high priest if He was the Messiah (Mark 14:61). “’I am,’ said Jesus, ‘And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Satan wants to rule so badly and he covets the glory of Christ so deeply that he is blinded to the reality that his condemnation was sealed when Jesus rose from the dead. Despite wanting to be exactly like Christ, he cannot escape the fact that his character is as far away from the character of Jesus as the east is from the west and he can never replace Christ. All he will be allowed is forty-two months. Not everlasting dominion. Just three and a half years.

We live in precarious times. The contrast between good and evil, darkness and light and pride and humility has never been more amplified. As we approach the final days at the end of the age, society tries to mask the distinction through moral relativism but cannot cover the truth. Labels don’t alter reality.

Isaiah 5:20 declares, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” Jesus said, “By their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:16). The Bible serves notice that God will not be mocked. Our creator’s extreme love will always prevail against Satan’s extreme hate. Christ’s humility is the antithesis of the antichrist’s thirst for power.

These polar extremes do not signify an eternal stalemate but rather they indicate that the Almighty has exercised restraint in order to facilitate free will. The day is fast approaching when God will no longer tolerate iniquity and He will not withhold judgement (Acts 17:31).