This thought provoking post is written by Destre Ortega, pictured above, Sunday School Teacher at FBC in Reserve! Destre is one of the best Sunday School Teachers I have been associated with, she is very intelligent and loving. I have two favorites here in New Mexico, Destre and Wannel Pate. Wannel was the Sunday School Teacher at the Church of God in Los Lunas where I at one time served under Pastor Jim Montoya as his Associate Pastor. I was blessed as a young tike to have wonderful Sunday School Teachers, I truly know as a student, parent, and Pastor how important Sunday School teachers are, they are builders of our children’s Christian foundation.
Destre N Shad Ortega
The other day a young man in our community asked our pastor “how did Satan get sin?” Now, I’m sure many of us have heard that question before. At the time Pastor simply told the youngster he would speak with him about it after church, I assume, because the answer was not simple. I don’t know the conversation those two had, but I can say as a Mom and Sunday school teacher the question did not leave me easily. This was something I too asked not long ago. I’m absolutely certain, I will hear it again. Kids are great at asking the tough questions. So, I pondered my own thoughts, beliefs, and what I know about scripture. What will my answer be when that question is aimed at me? Sigh of relief, I know this one. Why do I know? Because I know my Lord, I study Him, His word, and I speak with Him, asking for His constant guidance and knowledge. So, hear it is… God is good, everything good comes from the Lord, and everything He creates is good. Evil is the opposite of good, and therefor it is a biproduct of good. There is no thing that has ever not had an opposite simply as a rule of existing. The fact that God, who is perfect, eternal, and good does exist means that there has been an eternal evil as well. We know the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but the tree in the garden of Eden was called “The tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Evil is synonymous with good. We often think of satan somehow being the father of evil. He is not. When God created, free will was a gift He breathed into beings. Free will is the only way that His creation could truly love, praise, respect, or choose Him. Without it, we would be robots, programmed to obey. Why bother, if that’s the case? That was not God’s desire. He did not create us just to tie us up in shackles, He created us to be willing members of His eternal creation. Satan is not the father of evil, but he is the first created being to use His free will, to turn from good and go the way of evil. His band of fallen angels followed close behind. He has been trying to turn everyone else the opposite direction, away from God and all that is good, ever since. Evil is the result of that rebellion not the cause of it. Just as being short is a result of not being tall or being bald is a result of having no hair, evil is a result of not doing good. Yes, I love the hard questions. I love them because they usually have beautifully simple answers that turn us back to the realization that God loves us and He created us for His glory. Even when we question Him, He is faithful in His love for us.
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Thank you Destre for your excellent lesson on Satan and evil. This is one of the very reasons you are a super Teacher! We are so very thankful for you! Merry Christmas to you and yours! We love you and your precocious family!
I am that Pastor that Destre refers to, the young man she talks about likes to ask questions during the sermon……I do my best to give accommodate him, but when it comes to certain questions they have to wait till after Church, as they are a whole sermon in themselves. This is another reasons why I encourage people to go to Sunday School and Bible Study. I am very excited that this young man we are referring to is full of questions, it means he is hungry for Jesus! I have given him a study Bible. I love questions, I am not into giving short answers, as when someone asks a question they deserve a complete, in depth answer.
I am very thankful that FBC in Reserve has Sunday School for children and adults and Children’s Church on Sundays. It is sad that only around 20% of America goes to Church on Sundays and fewer than that go to Sunday School or Bible Study! Lack of Godly knowledge is a very sad thing.
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. Hosea 4:6
“So I tell you this, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.” Eph 4:17,18
“Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” Matthew 4:10
Billy Graham once said to a little girl who asked about why bad things happen, Billy said, “I do not understand everything God does, but I know my life is so much better since I accepted Him into my life as my Lord and Savior.”
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
Below is a link to John Piper’s commentary on Satan and evil. LOVE THIS!
John Piper: Where Did Satan’s First Desire for Evil Come From?
The Word of God calls the mind of a natural man “blinded” 2 Cor. 4:4 “depraved” Romans 1:28, “corrupt” 1 Tim 6:5, and “unspiritual” Col. 2:18. The natural mind thinks from a humanistic sin-debased viewpoint. The viewpoint of the flesh directs it’s thoughts. The sinful mind is under control of Satan.
And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. Job 1:12
Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Mark 4:15
The Truth About Spiritual Warfare
I always tell folks, beware of people who pretend to have an answer for everything, I am not GOD, it is good to stay off the throne of God…..my answer is FAITH! FAITH in GOD and His Ways and Word. Study His Word, absorb it into your life, be a walking Bible, put on the Armour of God and go forth in faith and trust. Love my JESUS!
Stay away from all things that are not Godly.
This has turned out to be a sermon!!!! 
