GOD has a plan for mankind. He has a plan for each and every one of us. He has called us into His Church…. to be part of His family, to be able to enjoy the blessings of His way of life. God wants us to be successful.
But there is another spiritual being that is not interested in our success. In fact he wants us to fail. He wants us to lose our calling, lose all hope and stop growing spiritually. He wants us to distance ourselves from God. He hates us because he knows that we are destined to have rulership over the earth and that is what he wants.
That of course is Satan, the “god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4).
But Satan knows his days are numbered! As time goes on, every day we come closer to the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of God’s government on this earth and Satan knows his time is ever shorter. He is driven to destroy God’s people and God’s plan.
But we can know and rest assured in the fact that God will protect us and that he puts limits on Satan — but He does permit Satan to try to deceive us and cause adversity and division. The good news is, that if we resist Satan’s attempts to deceive us — and we can resist with God’s help — we can remain close to God.
In the book of Job (1:12; 2:6) it is clear that God has put certain restraints on Satan. But also, interestingly enough, God does allow Satan a certain latitude so that we may be tried and proven.
God always knows what is best for us and sometimes difficulties and trials, which come about — even because of Satan’s involvement — can be an opportunity for growth that God allows in our lives. God is the one who is absolutely in charge, not Satan.
But we must never underestimate Satan’s power and cunning.
In Revelation 12:9 we read, “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
When we look around us it becomes quite apparent that Satan has succeeded in deceiving the whole world. We see false ministers, a false plan of God (heaven and hell instead of the Kingdom of God) and a false Sabbath (Sunday), foisted upon the world under Satan’s inspiration.
Instead of a righteous, kind and moral society Satan has inspired and grown a hate-filled, godless, immoral society.
Thankfully our study of God’s Word shows us that, in the end, Satan does not win!
God’s way of life, based upon His righteous law, will prevail “…For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).
It would be a good idea for each one of us to give some thought as to how much we have allowed the influences of Satan’ world to affect our lives personally and to renew our dedication to live according to the principles of life which our loving Father has given us.
Cliff Veal
