Beware of Placing the End before the Means

“Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” Matthew 4:8 – 10.

One day it will be manifest that all the kingdoms of the world belong to Jesus Christ, for He is King of kings and Lord of lords. But between the high mountain of Matthew 4:8 and Revelation Chapters 21 and 22 there is the Cross. Later in Matthew’s Gospel Peter will want to spare Jesus the Cross (Matthew 16:21 – 23) and Jesus will respond by saying, “Get behind Me, Satan...You are not setting your mind on God’s interests but on man’s.”

How foolish are Christians who excuse harshness and vitriol because they think they will get what they want. How foolish are we when we adopt the ways of the world and buy into devilish methods, thinking that the end will justify the means. Jesus would not accept the kingdoms of the world from the enemy of God. Why should we? Why should anyone or anything or anyway take the place of the True and Living God and His Son Jesus Christ?

“Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways.” Proverbs 3:31.