Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Confident (07/05/07)
-
TITLE: The Arrogant One | Previous Challenge Entry
By Sandra Petersen
07/11/07 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
None of the angels dared gaze toward the throne where the wrath of the Almighty smoldered as if a well-fueled furnace was ablaze. Many of their fellows had been cast out with the Arrogant One. If they were capable of emotions, they would have flitted about the vast expanse, hands to their heads, moaning in grief. Instead they awaited commands from the One who created them for service.
Something in the atmosphere stirred and the Almighty stood in all His majesty to survey His kingdom. His eyes no longer blazed with fury. He contemplated and when He began to move, His actions were determined and purposeful. His Spirit hovered over the ebony nothingness as if waiting.
Then God spoke the words of creation: “Let there be light.”
From least angel to greatest, the host of Heaven drew in breath and applauded in unison.
The refrain that continually filled the throne room of God burst forth from all as if from an immense pipe organ: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”
As suddenly as their praise of the Maker began it ended as He spoke again. From nothing but His own breath the firmament dividing the waters below from the waters above was made.
Again, the angels exalted the Name of the One they served. And as wonder after wonder was formed by the Almighty’s words, the praise became deafening.
Stars filled the universe, the sun and the moon each took their turn to smile upon an azure ball spinning on its God-determined orbit. Land rose from the water depths. Plant life added emerald hues to the Earth. Animals of all descriptions abounded. Fish and other strange sea creatures populated the ocean depths.
From somewhere in the outer darkness, Satan heard the increasing roar of exaltation and hissed.
With the sixth command, the host of Heaven held their breath. What could be more wonderful than those things the Maker had already created?
God stooped and ran His fingers through the miry clay of Earth. He sculpted bones and muscles, face and hair. Finally, as angels marveled, He breathed life-giving essence into the man’s nostrils. The man stretched his limbs and clay became flesh. Man, made in the likeness of the Trinity, breathed the heady fragrance of Eden and smiled.
“Walk with Me, Adam,” the Almighty invited, and the man went with Him into the verdant greenery of Eden’s garden.
Satan seethed with indignation. What right did God have to treat this creature made of the dust of the earth as His treasure? Hadn’t Satan himself once occupied that prized position?
The fallen angels mocked the frailty of the man, but Satan left his minions to follow Creator and created into Eden’s shade. He listened as the Almighty warned of the tree in the center of the garden: “For in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
And Satan smiled. He would smite the one made in God’s image, and the deed would be like smiting the Almighty Himself, the One upon which Satan focused all his hatred.
Satan the Serpent wrapped himself about the trunk of the forbidden tree patiently waiting for Adam’s mate to venture near. With cunning, he tempted her to eat, then share with Adam.
Satan laughed with hateful delight as the pair were confronted by God. Confident that these creatures treasured by the Almighty would perish forever, he made no attempt to hide himself when accused. He willingly received the words that cursed him to crawl on his belly and eat of the dust of the earth all the days of his life. But that was not the end of the condemnation.
Like a knife slitting his heart, the last words of God pierced him. “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”
The Arrogant One left the garden to await the woman’s Seed, sure he would yet ascend God’s throne in victory.
**********************
Quotations are from the New King James Bible and found in Genesis 1-2 and Revelation 4:8.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
