A recent guest speaker in our church approached me between worship services. He told me he’d heard about my son taking his life, and conveyed love and encouragement to me. Then he reminded me of this axiom of spiritual warfare: “We’re familiar with the statement, ‘God has a plan for your life.’ But what we forget is that satan also has a plan or our life.”
This is the premise on which C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters was written. And it’s prevalent throughout Scripture, beginning in Genesis 3.
This speaker was simply reminding me of the enemy’s relentless pursuit of God’s children. I like how British theologian, J.I. Packer, put it: “Christianity is not a bed of roses; it’s a battlefield on which we constantly fight for our lives.” The ultimate battle was won twenty centuries ago just outside Jerusalem. But, as the disciple Peter reminds his readers, every single day the enemy battles for our attention & devotion: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
Satan is far from satisfied with the passing of my son – he’d like to destroy the remainder of the Watts family, as well. There is no “mercy” with the devil. Ever. Jesus said, “[Satan] was a murder from the beginning,”
Last week (Nov. 2013), I was hit with two traumatic moments related to Jordan’s passing. Then, on Saturday, we finally received in the mail Jordan’s toxicology report. Although there was nothing surprising, or of note, in the report, my wife, Michelle, and I buckled under the emotional weight of it all. It was brutal. Satan would like nothing more than to use our emotion to cause my family to curse God and turn our backs on Him. That’s the enemy’s plan for God’s children – nothing has changed since Eden.
However,….
The Watts family has made our decision: We choose to stand with Job who said, “Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him.” (Job 13:15)
And one day we’ll look into the face of the One who won the eternal victory for us all, making Jordan’s place in heaven – and anyone else who professes their faith in Christ – sure, secure and eternal. The eternal party begins….
And, speaking of Jordan, that guest speaker i mentioned reminded me of another biblical truth. After the death of his infant son, King David said, “[My son] will not return to me, but I shall go to him (in heaven.)”
That’s GOD’s plan made possible through Christ Jesus. And, with His help, THAT is the plan I’m sticking with.
Soli Deo Gloria, Nick
