Bob Dylan Was Right

It’s claimed that, in 1979, this iconic songwriter/singer became born again. He wrote several songs that would suggest his conversion from Judaism to Christianity. It is still debated whether or not he returned to his Jewish roots in the early 1980s. Whatever the case, Bob Dylan was right about one truth of Scripture.

In August of 1979, Dylan released an album titled Slow Train Coming. It featured a piece called, “Gotta Serve Somebody.” (click box to enlarge text)

I’m not sure what inspired Dylan to write “Gotta Serve Somebody”, but Matthew 6:24 immediately comes to mind: “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

The 1^st century Thessalonians were an example of this principle. Paul writes, “For they themselves report about us as to the kind of reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God.” (1Thessolonians 1:9)

The Thessalonians were serving the Devil by worshipping idols. When they trusted Jesus as their Savior, they turned away from idol worship. They could not serve both idols and God.

Bob Dylan Was Right – How Will You Escape?

Jesus reinforced this principle in Luke 4:8, when the Devil offered Him the kingdoms of the whole world. However, this would require Jesus to worship the Devil. “Jesus answered him, it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’”

In Deuteronomy 11:13, God commanded the Israelites “…to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Notice that God says to serve Him, “…with all your heart and all your soul.” If we are giving our ALL to serve God, then there’s nothing left to serve the Devil.

By the way, serving the world and/or self is to be serving the Devil. James writes, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”  (James 4:4)

The Penalty of Sin

Paul had this to say about serving self (the flesh): “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:6-8)

There is no neutral ground on this subject. Even Bob Dylan was right on this point – “It may be the Devil, or it may be the Lord.” It’s always been this way. Adam and Eve were given the choice of serving God or the Devil. They chose to serve the Devil, and the consequences were catastrophic. We are still dealing with them today.

Killing Abel

The sons of Adam and Eve had to choose whom they would serve. When Cain murdered his brother, Abel, he was serving the Devil. Abel served God and was murdered because of Cain’s jealousy. Before murdering Abel, God gave Cain a second chance to serve Him. Cain declined to make the right choice and suffered the penalty for his rebellion.

Serving the Devil is always an act of rebellion towards God. God created people. Therefore, humanity is obliged to serve God. Additionally, He created this beautiful world for us to enjoy because He loves us. The Devil creates nothing but misery for us. Yes, when we serve him, there are momentary satisfactions. In the end, however, it’s all destruction.

Salvation Through Jesus Christ

Throughout history, those who chose to serve the Devil have faced failure and sorrow. The good news is that your life doesn’t have to end in misery. Like Cain, God is always willing to give us another chance. In fact, He gave the world His Son to be the sacrifice for our rebellion. We have only to trust in Jesus for salvation.

God sent His Son into the world as man. This Man lived a completely holy and righteous life before God and man. In 1Timothy 1:15, Paul wrote: “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.”

Jesus said, “For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.”  He came to do that which we cannot do. No one can save themselves from the wrath of God to come. However, Jesus did just that. He went to the cross of Calvary, bearing our sins in His body. Then, He bore the wrath of God against our sins. All that’s asked of you is to take God at His word that Jesus paid the penalty for your sins.  “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13)

Does it Matter That Bob Dylan Was Right? Yes, There is a Literal Hell!

Those that serve the Devil are in “The domain of darkness.” Isn’t it time for you to come out of the dark and into the light. “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

When we choose to serve the Devil, this becomes our reality: “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they will not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2Corinthians 4:4)

Full Assurance of Heaven

Joshua, the mighty general of Israel, had this to say after the conquest of the promised land: “Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and do away with the gods which your fathers served beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served, …but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:14-15)

Joshua gave the people very good advice. However, he knew that it was the choice of every person to choose whether to serve the Devil or the Lord. He couldn’t make the decision for them, but he could make it for himself and his household.

Bob Dylan was right, “You’re gonna have to serve somebody.” Serving the Devil is an eternity of darkness. Serving the Lord is an eternity of light.

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