Here is Why You are Hated

It’s easier to start in the beginning, the Genesis beginning, trying to explain why you and I are hated. On the Biblical level, scripture tells us that we have an enemy that wants to kill us, steal from us and destroy us. (John 10:10) If we look into the backstory of Satan, we see that he was a created angel by God. Satan made a choice, the same choice we have as humanity, to rebel against God or to be obedient. Because of Satan’s choice, along with other angels, he was kicked out of Heaven and found residence in a place called Hell. Scripture says that pride and ego were Satan’s downfall. Satan was created to serve, as we were, but Satan’s choice was only to serve himself, not God. Genesis chapter three is filled with lots of information we have a tendency to overlook. It is the first look we get at Satan or the serpent and how he works. Maybe you have heard that Satan is the father of all lies. In Genesis chapter three, he took God’s command to Adam and Woman (not Eve until after the fall) and distorted the truth. Now, here’s the choice I keep talking about, to serve God or rebel. Adam chose to rebel and sin entered the world. Because of Adam’s poor choice, God’s redemptive plan enters in Genesis chapter three. Like any good parent (Father) trying to sort out what happened (not that God doesn’t know; in short, God is real big on us admitting, confessing and repenting of our sin), as God listens to Adam, Woman, and Satan, they all seem to cast blame. Each is then given their consequence because of their choice to rebel and how it will affect future humanity. (Gen. 3:14-20)

So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.¹⁵ And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”

To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’“Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.

Don’t miss verse 15. We are hated because we are a constant reminder to Satan that he has been defeated. For some reason, I think we overlook the fact we have an enemy that hates us and tries his best to persuade us to rebel against God. Satan feeds us lies every day, distorts the truth and tries to cripples us from being obedient to the Word of God.

The Battle Within

Satan is really good at getting people to believe his lies, even Christ followers. I must admit I have fallen victim to his lies on more than one occasion. Many people may be addicted to a substance, such as drugs or pornography. Satan can use anything to distort the truth. I am so thankful to not have an outside obstacle or substance to deal with. However, my battle happens in my thought life. Paul gives great advice in 2 Corinthians to take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ. Easier said then done, Paul. Nonetheless, I must come back to the admitting, confessing and repentance aspects I spoke of earlier. I am fortunate enough to play drums at my home church. The church has been growing for a few years now and we were busting at the seams. We were holding dual services on the main campus and just opening a satellite campus. All services had a live band and two of the three venues had a simulcast of the preaching. We were feeling the growing pains in every aspect of church life. Eventually, we built a brand new worship auditorium that holds close to 900 people. The main campus now has three live services and the satellite campus now has two via simulcast, but with live worship. Some might say we battled the parking issue. Some might say we battled a space issue. Some might even say we battled the multi-campus issue. And all would be correct, but I would like to tell you about my personal struggle along the way.

Now, as with church growth, the musician pool began to increase as well. I was playing every Sunday in one of the three venues. It was awesome but I know staffing three bands was difficult. As that pool began to grow, which needed to happen, we were able to combine the main campus venues when the larger auditorium opened. With one less venue, the pool became a lot more crowded. As a musician, I love the multiple services and the multiple campuses. We are reaching more people! But I found myself in the musician pool but not being called on as often. And here is where Satan began to rear his ugly head. I began believing the lie that I wasn’t good enough anymore. Don’t get me wrong, I have the utmost respect and fondness for all the people that are playing. But when I was no longer playing every week, it messed with my mind. Now, if someone were to come to me with the same sort of circumstance, I have all kinds of scripture to give them. There would be advice on how to “trust God” and “His timing” and to “captivate your thoughts.” I would ask them “who are you trying to please” or remind them that “you play for an audience of one.” I could keep going, but maybe you get the point. The fact is, am I going to believe what I say I believe? Or am I going to listen to the lie and rebel? Am I going be grounded in the truth and be obedient?  News flash, obedience is difficult and not fun sometimes. Somewhere along the way I think we, as believers, have concocted our own lie that following Jesus is easy. For me personally, following Jesus gets more difficult every day. I say that to emphasize the more I follow and know His word, the more enlightened I become to my own shortcomings. See, the lie I bought into was that God was done with me and that I had served my time as a drummer. God had no use for me anymore or that I wasn’t good enough to play anymore. Well, that is a lie, because God is not done with me, as a drummer or any other aspect in my life, which belongs to Him. The truth is that God uses trials in my life to draw me closer to Him. Like I have stated before, it doesn’t make it any easier, but bearable. I have been fighting self-doubt, lack of self-worth, questioning my drive and my passion for drumming and examining my faith in Jesus.

The Good Book

Wow! Really Steven? All from not playing drums? Really? Yes, really! The Bible tells us that sin works something like this. Sin starts with deception/doubt which leads to our own desires, which leads to disobedience and when it’s full grown, it leads to death. (Gen. 3, James 1) We are responsible for our sin, not God. God is sinless, while we are sinful. Hence, that is why Paul wrote about captivating every thought. James would go on to tell us in his writing that God is sovereign over our trials. So, let me get this straight. God could be using this trial (not playing as much) to draw me closer to Him? Exactly! When in our trials, if we are focused on ourselves and our desires, we quickly drift off course. The goal in any trial should always be to stay focused on God. If we stay focused on Him, then we can grow in maturity and God’s likeness. We go through trials to strengthen our faith. What better way to strengthen my faith than through something I love so much. So where does that leave me now? Well, I have begun praying more over things I hardly ever prayed about. I rest on God’s word about prayer and anxiety. I make my request know and let His peace cover me. So when I find myself “waiting” in the musician pool, I have learned to pray that God would sustain me through the waiting and release me from the anxiety. Paul penned some verses in Philippians that talk about being content in any circumstance.

I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.

God knows the plan for me and I’m going to trust Him no matter the circumstance. I will not continue to listen to the lie. The enemy cannot have this foothold any longer; I belong to the creator of truth.

Photo by Gabriel Barletta on Unsplash