Apr 21

What particular aspect of God's manifold wisdom does he want the spiritual beings in heaven and hell to know? We do not know the fullness of God's purposes and wisdom, of course, but surely one basic concept needs to be completely clear to all beings: that it is wrong to disobey God and rebel against him and his rule, and that it is right to remain faithful to him who is the source of our own existence.

Scripture portrays a third of the angels joining with Lucifer in rebellion against God, and for this they were cast out of heaven (Rev. 12). Until their final punishment in the coming Great Judgment, they witness an ongoing lesson from God of the terrible nature of their act of rebellion. That lesson is given by the drama of the lives human beings live upon this planet. That is part of the manifold wisdom of God, that they should not receive their final punishment until they have witnessed the many lessons God wishes to teach them through this living drama.

One of those lessons is that only in obeying God does their existence have meaning and significance, and that only He is God, not they. That was the message in the Isaiah passage mentioned previously: God said simply "I AM." All living beings need to be aware of this most fundamental truth.

Scripture for today: Revelation 12
Thought for today: Obedience to God is fundamental to existence; rebellion against God leads to death.
Prayer for today: Lord, help me to learn what you want me to learn from your existence and my own existence in your great story.

APR 21