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Previous Challenge Entry
Topic: Blessed (11/29/04)
TITLE: Eternally Blessed
By Christy Poindexter
12/03/04
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One morning Satan approached the Lord to have a word with him. After his fall, he spent most of his time walking about the Earth to find things to occupy his time. The job was a bit difficult because there was no one else on Earth since the Lord had cast him down and destroyed it. Then one day God decided to fix things up a bit. God began to create a world of beauty. He placed stars in the sky and placed plants on the land. He made all sorts of animals and put fish in the seas. Afterwards God took clay and made a man after His own image and the devil bore witness as life was breathed into the creation. Then Satan asked, "What are you doing?"
God replied, " I am making man after my own image and I plan to set him in this garden I have prepared and we shall fellowship with one another and he will worship me."
Filled with jealousy Satan approached the Lord again and asked," Why are you going through so much trouble with this? The Lord replied, " It is of my good pleasure to do so." And so the Lord set the man on the Earth.
The devil watched man in the garden and overheard the conversations that took place between man and God. Satan's anger grew strong because he'd once had the attention and fellowship of the Lord. So the devil purposed within himself to do all he could to spoil the relationship. The devil devised what he thought was a cunning plan. He heard the Lord tell the man not to eat of a certain tree and he saw the curiosity and the potential for disobedience in the heart of man. One day Satan put his plan into action. Disguised as a serpent, Satan used what he knew about man to cause him to fall from grace with their Father. Afterwards he walked away rejoicing.

Many years passed and man multiplied and became great in number. Each time the Lord gave instructions to man the devil was there to make sure that their hearts were turned away from the Lord. Oh how Satan rejoiced to himself. He figured that God's plan to replace him was defeated and the he had finally won. Till one day there was a child born that would be called Jesus in the Bethlehem. Satan knowing that this was the Son of God rushed to the area to see what could be done to hinder the Lord's plan. Satan watched closely as the child grew into manhood and sought to gain the alliance of the young man while he fasted.
Satan figured, " I have twisted the words of God before to cause man to fall. Surely, I can do the same with this one and I will be victorious once more!" So Satan tempted the man atop of the mountain with the words of God but this time it didn't work. Determined that he would not loose he turned the hearts of men against the Son of God so that he would be killed.
As they placed the Son of God on the cross, Satan began to feel confident that he had defeated man again and that this time there was no hope. And with the last breath of Jesus, the Devil exhaled with a sigh of relief thinking that it was over. Before he could begin to enjoy his self proclaimed victory he found out that there was a sacrifice and an atonement taking place in heaven. This upset the devil greatly and he went to stand before the Lord to offer his accusation towards man.
" Lord, you so know that these people are unrighteousness and that they are wicked. I see their inner most desires and I know that they aren't worth the life of the one you have sent. Give them to me and relieve yourself of the troubles of dealing with them"

God did not consider the words of Satan but He said, " Before this world was created, I pronounced a blessing over these that cannot ever be taken away. These are now my children and they have received grace through the Son and through him shall they receive grace. Though you may try to deceive them and oppress them it shall not stand, no weapon formed against them shall prosper for these are mine and by my Word they are eternally blessed"