As we have seen through this series on Hanukkah, darkness is always on the move with its plans to overcome the Light.
Ever since the beginning, the evil one has been trying to overthrow the Creator and remove the Most High from His heavenly throne.
The Fall of Lucifer “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit. “Those who see you will gaze at you, And consider you, saying: ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms, Who made the world as a wilderness And destroyed its cities...
-Isaiah 14:12-17
After this attempted insurrection, Lucifer was cast out of heaven like a profane thing, yet was left here on earth as the Adversary and tempter of mankind.
Many ask, why?
God alludes to His reasoning why He has created humanity and has allowed the evil one to roam throughout the earth.
We Must Overcome Sin
When Cain's offering was not accepted, God encouraged him to do better and also gave him a warning that sin's desire lies at the door but he should rule over it.
So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” -Genesis 4:6-7
The Light of the World
When Yeshua entered into this earthly realm, He overthrew Lucifer's hold on mankind and defeated his authority over us by atoning for the penalty of our sins through the shedding of His blood.
Yeshua spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. The one who follows Me will no longer walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” -John 8:12
During His ministry when He sent 70 of His Disciples out on a mission trip:
Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”
And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather[f] rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” -Luke 10:17-20
The Wicked Will Be No More
Just as Yeshua has His followers, Satan has his and until Satan is removed, evil will continue to flourish.
Every human has an opportunity to choose between good and evil, God does not force anyone to follow Him.
In the book of Job, Job's associate Bildad states:
“The light of the wicked indeed goes out, And the flame of his fire does not shine. The light is dark in his tent, And his lamp beside him is put out. The steps of his strength are shortened, And his own counsel casts him down.
Brimstone is scattered on his dwelling. His roots are dried out below, And his branch withers above. The memory of him perishes from the earth, And he has no name among the renowned.[a] He is driven from light into darkness, And chased out of the world.
Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, And this is the place of him who does not know God.”
-Job 18:5-7, 15-18, 21
We Are Called to Be the Lights of the World
Once we have repented from our sins, have been immersed and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are a new person and have become part of the family of God and co-heirs with Yeshua the Messiah.
We have transitioned from the penalty of death due us in this earthy realm to the promise of Eternal Life through the sacrifice of Messiah into the heavenly realm.
Yet, we are still living in this world and subject to its birth-pains as it awaits the revealing of the Sons and Daughters of God, notice this in the book of Romans.
For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
-Romans 8:19-23
Paul encourages us in Philippians 2:12-16:
Therefore, my loved ones, just as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence—work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For the One working in you is God—both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you might be blameless and innocent, children of God in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation. Among them you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that I may boast in the day of Messiah that I did not run or labor in vain.
Yeshua affirms that we are to be the light of the world:
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
-Matthew 5:14-16
Satan's Finality
Satan believes that he can still win, Yeshua came to show us that we can overcome sin and inherit a new glorified world with an eternal glorified body.
A time of trouble is coming upon us, that will test us, but we can overcome all things through Him who lives within us.
Now we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.
For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified; and those whom He justified, He also glorified.
What then shall we say in view of these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how shall He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
Who is the one who condemns? It is Messiah, who died, and moreover was raised, and is now at the right hand of God and who also intercedes for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Messiah?
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
As it is written,
“For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.”[j]
But in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Messiah Yeshua our Lord.
-Romans 8:28-39
All Things Made New
We who are faithful, will be part of the First Resurrection upon Yeshua's return and Satan will be put into the Pit for 1,000 years, but afterwards will be released for a season.
After that season, he and all evil will be cast into eternal darkness and the rest will glorified beings inheriting a new heaven and new earth. Notice this in the Book of Revelation 21:1-8:
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.
He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Eternal Light - The Glory of the New Jerusalem
Then there will no need of the sun or moon, for the Light of Messiah and the Father will illuminated the new heaven and new earth!
But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.
And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).
And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.
But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. -Revelation 21:22-27
This is what Hanukkah is all about, rededicating our lives to Messiah and being the eternal light of the world.
This is our destiny, will you be a part of it?