I remember as kids that we would so loosely say this to each other in anger, not understanding what we were saying.

“The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit.”  Luke 8:31 (NLT)

If I could pray one prayer for you beyond eternal salvation, it would be that you would experience the incredible joy and flooding of hope that comes when God reveals his love and immeasurable majesty as you read his Word.

I once heard what for me is the most understandable description of Hell as ‘the eternal separation from God and all hope.’  That resonates in my head and my heart because my identity, my purpose, my reason, my joy, all abide in me and drive me forward because of the love and relationship that I have with my Father in Heaven, and he with me.

Now I have read Luke Chapter 8 in the Bible dozens of times.  The marvelous parables of the farmer sewing seed, the lamp.  The recounting of his family, calming the storm, the demon possessed man, the woman whose faith healed her and raising the little girl from the dead? All combine to make this one of my favorite chapters in the Bible.  

This morning as I was reading this incredible chapter again, I was stopped by these words:  “The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit.”  New Living Translation.  The Berean Standard Bible translation says “And the demons kept begging Jesus not to order them to go into the Abyss.”  The King James says “And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.”

How horrid is Hell?  So terrible that even the demons that roam this earth desiring to influence you and me to choose Hell in exchange for a few years of deceitful decadence and ‘happiness’ in this very short life, begged Jesus not to send them there.  Perhaps nothing better illustrates Satan’s evil and desperation than the understanding that even his minions sent to do his evil work, begged not to return.

So why is this so beautiful for you and me and all who believe?  Well, like everything in the Bible, I encourage you to read on.  Read on when you are at a life roadblock.  Read on when there seems no hope.  Read on when you are paralyzed by fear.  Read on when you doubt that anyone hears you.  Read on when you’re at a crossroads in life and your desire is to make the right and best decision.  Read on when you desperately need to feel love and loved.  Read on when what you hold, is all that you need.  The living, breathing, life guidebook and life’s breath, the Bible.

“There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons begged him to let them enter into the pigs. So Jesus gave them permission.”  Luke 8:32 (NLT)

So take another step today.  The one who came and died, and rose and reigns forevermore, loves you.  The Evil One must ask God’s permission to perpetuate evil upon you.  You are in control if you have surrendered all to he who controls all and provides agape love to each of us who choose him.  This is just too marvelous to fully comprehend, but freely given to all who ask.

It’s okay. Just rest in the knowledge that he who Satan must bow and ask permission, also loves you so much that he freely provides the beauty of the lilies in the field.    Consider that what you are walking through is God’s way of saying, “I love you.  Please hold on to me.  I have so much that I want to show and teach you.  You are safe.  Trust me in the lessons that I allow in your life.  I love you that much.”

If you’ve chosen Jesus, there is nothing that has control over you.  You are the child of the King of all Kings.  Satan had to ask God’s permission to attack Job.  His demons begged not to be sent to the bottomless hopeless pit of Hell.  Reject the irrational fear that Satan schemes, to prevent you from being all that God created you to be.  

Invading pigs and drowning was a better option for demons than Hell.  What a magnificent God we serve, whose love too marvelous to full comprehend.  You’re fine.  He’s has you.