Understanding The Evil One

Not many people will make Satan the center of something they write about. I feel it is imperative that I do so to make the contrast between God and the devil abundantly clear. Most Christians recognize that Satan was once an angel named Lucifer, the morning star. He is described in Ezekiel 28 as the wisest, most beautiful, and powerful angel of God. Angels were created as perfect beings by God, but they also have free will. Lucifer became prideful of his appearance and power. He sought after God’s throne and worship. He was cast out of heaven along with one third of the angels who were defeated by the archangel Michael and the other loyal angels of God. His name was changed to Satan meaning adversary. Self-generated pride by Lucifer was the first sin in the universe. That’s one reason I emphasized the dangers of pride in my previous post “Why We Fall.”

By becoming Satan, the adversary, Lucifer opposes and mimics God in every way imaginable. He tries to mock God with his own trinity of himself, the antichrist, and the beast. He wants us to listen to him, the second voice, instead of God. He uses false prophets. He seeks our souls just as fervently as God does. This is why he tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Jesus contrasts his desire for us with Satan’s in John 10:9-10

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

The devil uses so many ways to drive a wedge between us and God. I would say the most effective method would be false religions. The biggest offenders being Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and atheism. It’s saddening to say that at this point in time, the majority of the world has been deceived by these false religions. What’s interesting is the contrast between other religions and Christianity: the one true God seeks to save His people through sacrifice while every other god seeks appeasement. These gods value works over faith. Take for instance Allah and how one must do many different things to enter heaven. What’s so horrific with Islam in particular is that there are verses in the Quran that promote killing infidels as a path to heaven. You could compare these other “gods” to Satan himself considering he seeks the same appeasement.

Aside from false religions, the next most important tool of the devil is temptation. Every human being, Christian or not, is tempted throughout life. There are certain temptations that take hold in our lives while others do not. Some of us struggle with addictions and lust, while others deal with anger and pride. As time goes on, the temptations of the world have gotten stronger and more prevalent. We live in an extremely sexualized society today. Drugs are cheap and easy to obtain. Political polarization has led to anger and violence. I’m not saying if you mess up from time to time that you are chained down by the devil; however abiding in sin and the desires of the flesh will lead to self-imprisonment by the devil. Especially, if you are far from God or have never known Him, I caution you to beware. That feeling of being trapped by sin is a slow process just as building your faith and strength to withstand sin is a slow process.

Fortunately the Lord gives us many tools to combat sin and the devil. He has given us His word so that we may have Truth and not deception in our lives. We can pray for strength when we feel weak and vulnerable to temptation. Also, as Christians, we are not tempted beyond our ability to reject sin. Demons cannot manifest within us and angels protect our paths. The Holy Spirit guides our paths. We can rejoice in the facts of life as a believer. Let’s walk in the light of the Lord and avoid falling into pits of darkness. Help non-believers do the same so that they may know the Jesus and be saved to prevent falling as Lucifer has.

Luke 10:19-20 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.