What Hell Didn’t Know
A Reflection on Easter and the Situation We Face as a Persecuted Church and Nation
One of my reflections over the past few months is the mystery of Calvary and Easter. And it relates to the situation we face as a people and nation. And the question is, how didn’t hell know? How didn’t the devil know Jesus’ death would lead to mankind’s redemption?
Because the way I see it, the devil knew scripture. It was what he used to tempt Jesus in the wilderness. So, how did the devil skip on all the prophecies from Micah to Isaiah about the Messiah? It seems he understood the prophecy about Christ’s birth, hence his attempt to kill the infant Christ, but how did he miss Jesus’ divine purpose and that the cross was the way?
The only reasonable answer I have come up with is that God limits not only the devil’s power but his knowledge.
He limited the devil’s understanding. And Satan thought he won at Calvary. I envision the devil and his arch demons having a party after Jesus died. But then, he stormed the party and turned them into the mascots. Yupp! Colossians 2:14–15 says exactly that in The Message Translation.
“…having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross”
He nailed and marched Satan and his goons in a procession! Friday to Sunday must have been a long time for them. Eternity will be much longer.
I think of how Satan didn’t know and how God flipped the script. And I also think of the situation we face as a nation. The terrorists who have besieged our nation think they are winning.
In the past 2 weeks, I have visited 4 local government areas in my home state, Plateau, affected by terror attacks and listened to the testimonies of victims. Just yesterday, I was in Zikke, the community that was attacked and 51 killed on the night of Palm Sunday, a few days ago. And I can’t help but wonder how the devil and his agents think they are winning and have indeed won. I think of how it is similar to what happened to Calvary.
And then, I think of the worst thing to happen, which I see on social media and in conversations with people. That we have joined Satan in thinking he is winning. We speak like people without hope. Who don’t believe God has eternal purposes at play and knows what he is doing. Who don’t believe that God will judge and bring justice in this life and the one to come.
To borrow the words of the Apostle Paul. I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, or forget the God we serve and the scope of his power.
What is happening is tough. But we must not talk or grieve or react like those without hope. Those who don’t believe in God’s sovereignty and justice. We have a living hope, and it was sealed by a cross and an empty grave 2000 years ago.
I’ll be honest, I don’t always believe this. The past few months have been draining. Working closely with persecuted Christians and their stories has tested my faith in more ways than one. But in God’s providence, we studied Revelation in BSF this year, and I learnt over and over again that judgment day is coming.
One day, God will make right every wrong. Perfect justice is on the way. And we will thank God when it comes.
