Cause and Effect: What Cause is Effecting Your Life?

by David Shannon

Jesus' Cause

"The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified... Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour" (John 12:23,27). Jesus left Heaven for this cause. He left Galilee for this cause. He entered into Jerusalem to give Himself over to be crucified to fulfill this cause! This cause glorified God! It wasn't easy. At times it was most troublesome. But Jesus never forgot His cause for living! His cause was to be offered so "that the world through Him might be saved" (Jn 3:17).

Satan's Cause

Revelation symbolically tells of Satan's cause. In the following verse the woman is symbolic for the church. "And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood" (Revelation12:15). Satan's cause is to destroy the church. Those that are spiritual minded, he wishes to be carried by the flood into destruction! Floods of apathy, immorality, false doctrine and other destructive waters are from the mouth of Satan. His cause is to inflict pain and eternal destruction.

Our Cause

Our cause is described by Paul in II Corinthians 4:14-18. We must recognize that the power that raised Jesus from the dead can raise us. "For which cause (the desire to be raised eternally with Christ) we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day" (vr 16). To do this we must be raised with Christ in baptism (Colossians 2:12-13). Then we must live in submission to His grace (Titus 2:11-15). We will reap benefits now, but the full effect of this life will be reaped on judgment day!

Let's Do It!

Our cause is to prepare now to live for an eternity with God! Don't let Satan's cause produce destructive effects in your life. Instead be effected by Jesus' cause. To live for this cause produces a glorious effect!

• Satan's Big Lie -Mar 25, 2001
• Satan is for Real -Sep 22, 1996
• Satan -Jul 29, 1990
• Names for Satan -Dec 10, 1989