The history of spiritual struggle takes us back to heaven before the creation of this world. The perfect of perfect creatures created by God was Lucifer. He was also given a status above the angels. He was the epitome of perfection and this became his Achilles heel of weakness and finally fall. Lucifer's original position was very exalted, and he was the highest ranking of all the angels. Ezekiel 28:12-15 also states that in addition to being powerful, Lucifer was the most beautiful of all of God's creations. As a result of this outstanding attribute, pride entered his heart and he started thinking to be equal to God.
But Lucifer was not satisfied with his lot in heaven as "God's favourite angel." Instead, Lucifer wanted to become God. In essence, Satan rebelled against God because he wasn't happy as an assistant to God but instead wanted to have God's status. His strategy was to beguile the angels by questioning the governance of God. According to the Old Testament, upon learning of Lucifer's plan, God removed him from his dignified position and cast him out of Heaven (Isaiah 14:15; Ezekiel 28:16-17). This is often described as Satan's "fall from Heaven." It would be more appropriate to say that he was thrown out from Heaven.
Revelation 12:9 “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.” Theologians believe that a third of the angels of heaven were cast out with him, who are referred to as evil angels. Thus begins the great controversy between ‘Truth and Error,’ and ‘Good and Evil.’ There is thus a war raging – a war between truth and error, good and evil. While truth and Goodness stand for God, error and evil are the realm of satan.
The entire thrust of satan has been to prove God wrong. He had the audacity to question the character and governance of God. He questions the character of God when He tells Eve that she shall not die against what God had said that if she ate the fruit she shall surely die. Genesis 3:4 “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:” Again he paints God to be selfish and mean because He says that the day you eat the fruit you will be like God. Genesis 3:5 “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.” Casting aspirations on the character and governance of God has been a strategy of the devil right from the beginning.
In Job 1:6-7 and 2:1-2, we have learned that there were other worlds created by God. Satan is trying to prove God wrong to us and all these other worlds, Galaxies and universes. He is trying to say that the entire world follows him and there is hardly anyone faithful to the Lord. This is the great deception. Every day, everyone who is faithful to God is tempted by satan. His ways are many. It comes in various shapes and sizes. Financial problems, family problems, illness, hatred, bigotry, greed, divisiveness, caste, creed, religion, sex, etc.
Those who stand firm to the Lord and look forward to eternal life have to go through these trials and tortures every day while only a handful will remain. The justice of God is perfect and His Arm is long enough to protect and take care of all those who are faithful to Him. This is the great spiritual warfare that is being fought from the beginning.
Dr Ashwin Drummond
laddertoheaven.co.in