The Joker

The JOKER
Much attention has been focused on “The Joker” after the recent terror in a movie theater in Aurora, Colo.
The Joker is a supervillain and the archenemy of Batman. In the movie, The Dark Knight, the Joker is a fictional character in a strange mask and dark clothing. He is a maniacal criminal mastermind who terrorizes.
I’m not a movie goer, but it seems strange that this movie probably will make millions. Society has unusual tastes in entertainment.
The Joker reminds me of another devilish character—Satan. In fact, the fictional character had nothing to do with what happened in the Aurora theater. It was this archenemy of humankind. He—Satan—planted the diabolical thought in the young man’s mind, and the devil was at the death scene.
For it was he who caused humankind to die in the beginning. It was he who tempted Eve to disobey God, and Adam followed. It was Satan that told the first woman that God wasn’t telling the truth.
“You won’t die!” said he.
Previously they had been immortal. But it wasn’t long after their sin when they stood at the graveside of their beloved son Abel,—murdered by their other boy, Cain.
Because God wants us to choose whether to serve him, he allows Satan to run loose. Scripture tells us to be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). We’re also told, “The thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy: I am come that they might have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10NIV).
Yet the Bible says all we have to do to get rid of this monster is resist him: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). It tells us in James 2:19 that demons tremble at the sound of the name of Jesus.
We’re told Satan can mimic God’s miracles (Revelation 16:14) and we are to put on the whole armor of God so that we can resist the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:10,11).
The victims in Aurora became casualties of a man who submitted to Satan, not by any act of their own. They were innocent.
According to a joke I heard recently Satan and God were having a discussion.
“I can do anything you can,” the devil boasted.
“Okay. Make a man.”
So Satan bent over and began scraping up dirt.
God put a hand on his shoulder. “Use your own dirt.”
In the end times, Satan will be bound and cast into a bottomless pit. After a thousand years, he will allowed out for a short time after which he will be cast into the Lake of Fire, and will be tormented forever and ever (Revelation 20:7-10).
Our Heavenly Father will issue the sentence. That’s justice.