In J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy, The Lord Of The Rings, the inhabitants of Middle Earth live under the shadow of the Dark Lord, Sauron. His lust for the Ring and its power brings suffering and death to many. While Tolkien's story of Middle Earth is fictional, it's not completely fanciful. There is a Dark Lord - Satan. His lust for power has caused great devastation and death on planet Earth.

The Bible tells us that Satan was not originally God's archenemy but one of God's archangels. Like the other angelic beings, he was created to worship and serve his i Creator. But being filled with pride, he rebelled against God (1 Timothy 3:6). Satan was created good, but he became evil.

If God made Satan to be good, why did He allow him to go bad? Perhaps for the same reason He lets humans go bad. God desires that His creatures respond to Him with a love that is free and not forced. Satan abused his freedom and become a slave of evil.

After allowing Satan to go bad, why does God allow him to go on? Why not stop his malicious and malignant actions? The Bible says God will do just that. Revelation 20:10 tells us that one day God will throw Satan into a lake of burning sulphur to be tormented day and night forever. Satan's time is limited, his doom is certain and his punishment will be eternal.

While Satan has become God's enemy, he has never been God's equal. For that reason, we need not live in fear of Satan's power. Instead, we should follow the admonition given in James 4:7-8: “'Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you.”

As we come near to God by trusting in His Son, Jesus, we can experience victory over God's archenemy.

Source: Delve Into Jesus

Labels: Devotionals