I want to be honest with all of you. I want to say something profound, and witty, and something that gets you thinking, and makes you laugh all at the same time. I want to erase stigma of every kind off the face of the planet. I want to say so many things that I find myself being paralyzed, and I don't write anything. Please don't take my silence for a lack of thinking. It never means that. Actually it means too much thinking. I want to write about soul mates, and about things I barely understand but feel very passionate about. In other words, I have been doing lots of soul searching, as I have always done.
It's a funny thing to realize what all this soul searching has produced. I have come to realize that I do not wish anyone ill will, and I wish everyone to have a happy ending. EVERYONE. Does that mean I don't believe in justice, or that someone should not be punished for some evil act they have done? Well, no, I still believe a person should answer for their actions. But I believe when all is said and done, there should be no more suffering and pain for anyone. For you see, I believe it is our pain and suffering that drives us to do bad things, and to hurt other people. Perhaps fear is to blame as well. If these things were gone though, and we knew that we were loved unconditionally, we wouldn't hurt each other anymore.
Let's look at one being in particular. You may be surprised at the one I choose to discuss here. But since I believe there is hope for everyone, I am going to play devil's advocate, quite literally. I have been known to joke with my friend Jerry that I want to "save the devil". But in all seriousness, I'm not joking. And I know how the Bible ends, with him being cast into a burning lake of fire with no hope of escape, and its for all of eternity. But excuse me for holding out a little hope that maybe that's not the whole story, and maybe there's more to be told then just the abrupt way the story ends. Maybe the Bible ends that way cause it knew Christians would be in an uproar if the villain didn't get his just desserts, as it were.
Why do I even care? Shouldn't I hate the devil, who is harassing me by the way in ways that I don't care to go in to? After all, he is the ultimate enemy of the human race, and God, right? Why should I have any pity on him? I mean it's one thing to not want a single human being to suffer an eternity in hell fire, burning for all of eternity. They, after all have intrinsic value. They were created in the image of God. Satan, Lucifer, the devil... he is just pond scum because of.... why? Follow your reasoning to it's logical conclusion. It doesn't flow, and it doesn't make any sense. If I may, I am going to tell you it's crap. He is a created angelic being, the most beautiful of all the host, and he led the other angels in praising the Lord. So he was very musically talented. Still think he deserves an eternity in hell?
Sigh... I am probably pleading a useless case. But my heart breaks for this most despised entity. I can't even begin to explain all the reasons why. It's actually personal for me. But forget that. I know I can never make a case for why the devil should have a chance at redemption. But at least let me have the chance to show you a different path, one where every one has a happy ending. Yes, even the devil. Don't get me wrong. I'm no devil worshiper. I'm just someone who sees something wrong, and I want it fixed, perhaps more than most. Actually, I'm probably the only one who wants it fixed. Still, I will plead my case.
You see, I have this belief that when Jesus died on the cross and said "It is finished", that's exactly what He meant. I believe we are all going to make it to heaven some day, or to our own personal paradise. I know that's radical thinking, But I think Jesus won the day, and accomplished what He set out to do. Otherwise, what else is His sacrifice for? Just to save a select few who believe in a certain religion in this life? Oh, and not just that, but a select sect of that religion? I don't buy that.
So if it's true that Jesus saved everyone, why not the devil too? Do you really think Jesus doesn't love the devil, even if the devil hates Him? God created the devil, back when he was still an angel, and God loves all of His creation, even the fallen parts of it. And God is all about restoring that which is fallen. I truly believe that. So I think it's possible that some day, the devil may be restored. It hurts my soul to think otherwise.
Why does it hurt my soul to think the devil will never be restored? Don't I have more important things to worry about? Well, sure I'm living my life and doing other things. But it just seems to me that as long as there is one fallen being out there, then things haven't been completely restored. Perhaps I'm the only one who thinks that, but something tells me there might be One other who agrees with me. Just a hunch. Just more thoughts from the mind of Crystal.
by: Crystal Nylander
