What is Rebellion?
Rebellion, at its root, is the desire to displace God’s authority through personal will, spiritual enlightenment, or warfare. Rebellion takes many paths, and each one is poisonous. By rejecting God’s sovereignty and boundaries, rebels aspire to free themselves from accountability. Through perversion, witchcraft, strife, technology, and violence, rebels strive to recreate the world in their image.
Lucifer’s Rebellion
Satan, also known as Lucifer, is the original rebel. He coveted God’s power and then staged a coup to steal God’s glory.
For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
Isaiah 14:13-14
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Unsuccessful in his attempts to overthrow God, he was ultimately cast out of heaven. Satan then set out to destroy humanity through rebellion. What could be more beguiling to a human than the promise of becoming like god?
Adam and Eve’s Rebellion
The devil knows the truth, but he hopes humans do not recognize it. Century after century, he repackages the same lie from the Garden of Eden.
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Genesis 3:1-5
And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
In essence, Satan told Eve that she could ascend to godhood by rejecting God’s boundaries. Curiously, she and her husband ate the forbidden fruit, and their eyes were opened to good and evil. However, their rebellion brought destruction to earth and, even more, separation from God. Therefore, rebellion leads to physical and spiritual death.
Tower Builders’ Rebellion
Throughout the generations, humans have repeatedly tried to supplant God. Consider the infamous Tower of Babel, where they attempted to ascend to godhood through sheer will and technology.
And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
Genesis 11:4-6
And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
God will not share his glory, so he scattered the builders abroad, confounding their languages. Satan and humanity’s rebellious plans failed.
Transhumanists’ Rebellion
Satan sealed his fate long ago. He is destined to burn in the Lake of Fire for rebelling against God. Human beings, however, still have time to submit to God, but will we ever learn? From Eden to Babel to modern times, humans continue to reject God’s sovereignty. Still today, rebels exalt their knowledge and technology above God. Artificial superintelligence is the new Tower of Babel.
The only way to recognize deception is to stand steadfastly on the truth: human beings are not gods and never will be.
What is Truth?
Denying the truth does not make it false! Efforts to cancel and replace God fail again and again. Jesus defined truth: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Consider how Jesus prayed for the disciples before his arrest:
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
John 17:17-19
As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”
A critical revelation, we must hold onto this prayer with all our might. Rebels deny the truth and shame Christians for believing it. We must contend for the faith, no matter the cost!
After being arrested, Jesus was interrogated by Pilate, a Roman governor.
Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
John 18:37
Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection bear witness to the truth. Despite the rebellious mob’s demand for crucifixion, Christ rose from the dead with all power in heaven and earth! Let us recognize the subtle serpent in rebellion and bruise its head with the truth: we serve the only true and living God who reigns forever and ever.