In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God.
II Corinthians 4: 4 (RSV)
Satan is the ruler of this world, even though many people do not believe he exists. He has blinded people so that they do not seek God. This devotion looks at who Satan is and some of his attempts to dethrone God.
Nuggets
- Satan, an angel who fell from heaven because because of pride and arrogance, desires to dethrone God.
- Satan has blinded this world by pride, prejudice, and passion.
- Satan is the one deceiving people so they do not become believers and disciples of Jesus.
This is one of those devotions that just kind of took off. I am going to end up breaking it up into two So, hang with me on this.
It seems like non-believers blame God for a lot of things He didn’t do. He didn’t create a world with disease, death, global warming, natural disasters, etc.
All of that entered as consequences of Adam and Eve committing the original sin. Why did they commit that sin?
To read
How Do We Not Bite When Satan Says Bite?
and
What Would Have Happened If Adam and Eve Hadn’t Sinned?,
click the appropriate button below.
One reason was that Eve was talked into it by Satan. But who is Satan? And why does he have so much control over this world? If the Gospel is the Good News, why isn’t it easier to understand?
Let's Put It into Context
The Bible tells us, though not explicitly, that Satan was an angel (Ezek. 28: 12-18) who fell from heaven because because of pride (Isa. 14: 12-21) and arrogance (I Tim. 3: 6) and a desire to dethrone God. When Satan fell from heaven, which was witnessed by Jesus (Lk. 10: 18), Satan took one third of the angels with him. They are now referred to as demons.
Instead of ruling in Heaven above God, Satan is ruling this earth (Jn. 8: 44-47; Jn. 12: 31; II Cor. 4: 4; Eph. 2: 2). He uses deception to gain followers. Motivated by hate, he is still seeking to overthrow God by increasing opposition to God.
Satan’s future is sealed, however. In the end, he will be defeated. Satan will empower a ruler to do signs and wonders. A false prophet will also lead people to worship Satan. A war against God and His people will be fought (Armageddon), where Satan will be defeated, and the ruler and the false prophet will be thrown in a Lake of Fire. After 1000 years of imprisonment, Satan will be released. The cycle will start over where Satan again convinces world leaders to attack Jesus as He rules on earth. This short-lived battle will end up with Satan being cast into the Lake of Fire for eternity.
This is scary, so I am going to copy it word for word. “According to the Barna Group, the majority of Christians do not believe that Satan or the devil actually exists. However, according to an AP-AOL news poll, up to 97% of evangelical Christians believe that angels exist” (God and Science).
Why doesn’t the majority of Christians (and non-believers) believe that Satan even exists? How can they not believe in God’s power and majesty?
Blinded from the Light
“In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers …” (I Cor. 4: 4 RSV).
If the God and Science figures are correct, not even half of the disciples of Jesus see where Satan has deceived this world. Non-believers and the other Christians, however, can’t. Satan has blinded this world by pride, prejudice, and passion.
The pride comes into play when we believe that our own success, not God’s provision, can provide us with a happy life. Today’s definition of success says we can be masters of our own lives. This is just a delusion as God is Master of all.
This world has erupted in accusations of prejudice — some instances true; some instances false. This is just a way Satan is using to sew division throughout the world, especially against God’s people.
Satan is using people’s passion to blind people. While people champion good causes, they fail to realize that many times the cause is really an effect — a consequence of the original sin.
Paul gives us lists of sin in Galatians 5: 19-21, Ephesians 5: 3-6, and I Corinthians 6: 9-10. Following is just a partial list: sexual immorality, impurity, homosexuality, idolatry/covetousness, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, greed, drunkenness, filthiness, and all impurity. These are very appealing to many today, even those who claim to be Christians. Satan uses these to tempt disciples of Jesus to renounce Him and Sovereign God.
Those That Are Lost
“… to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God” (I Cor. 4: 4 RSV).
A quick read may make this sound like God is keeping secrets from some people and not inviting them to the salvation party. That is furthest from the truth.
“God wants everyone to be saved and to know the whole truth, which is, There is only one God, and Christ Jesus is the only one who can bring us to God. Jesus was truly human, and he gave himself to rescue all of us” (I Tim. 2: 4-5 CEV emphasis added).
But, yeah, it can be confusing sometimes. First of all, God’s ways are higher than our ways (Isa. 55: 8-9). So, how can we understand something that is over our heads?
Besides, God only introduces Himself to us in the Bible. He waits until we are believers to really start revealing Himself to us.
Are there people kept from seeing God? Oh, yes, because people are still in darkness.
We talked about in the last devotion that the glory of God was described as a bright light. Remember, Ezekiel said, “… the brightness of the glory of the LORD” (Ezek. 10: 4 NKJV). When God’s light shines, darkness flees.
Remember the two men on the road to Emmaus? When Jesus first joined them, “… their eyes were kept from recognizing him” (Lk. 24: 16 RSV). Eventually, “… their eyes were opened and they recognized him …” (Lk. 24: 31 RSV). My opinion on this is Jesus wanted to explain everything to them without having to deal with the distraction of risen Savior. I would say He turned the light on, and darkness fled.
To read What Can We Learn from the Road Trip to Emmaus?, click on the button below.
But most of the time, it is man lowering the black out shades. The shades may be lowered by indifference or misapprehension. Sometimes, though, we just get too caught up in our troubles to look above them. Or we may feel our past sins disqualify us from seeking God’s light.
But wait a second. Let’s read that verse again. “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God” (II Cor. 4: 4 RSV).
Ultimately, Satan is the one trying to make sure non-believers don’t turn into believers, believers don’t turn into disciples, and disciples turn away. It isn’t God. Don’t believe that noise.
Making the Connections (for Now)
It is easy for some people to discount there is a God because they don’t see Him. In the same vein, they can discount Satan because they can’t see him, either.
Both are alive and well and working in this world. The difference is one is working for good; the other, evil.
Satan knows that if he blinds people to God — even if those people don’t make a decision to serve or reject God — the outcome will still be the same. We have to choose God.
God isn’t going to force us to believe in Him. But a non-decision will condemn us to eternity in the Lake of Fire.
Don’t be that non-decider.
If you have not admitted that your relationship is not right with God,
have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior,
and have not confessed your sins,
please read through the Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
Father. When Adam and Eve committed the original sin, they subjected us to a lifetime of deception by Satan. Lord, we don’t want to follow him. We want to follow Your laws and commandments. We want to live the lives You have planned for us. Help us to withstand any temptation Satan throws our way. Give us strength and courage to tell him that we will never deny You. Then, we pray that we live that decision. Amen.
Related Links
The God and Science quote used above was obtained from the following website:
https://www.godandscience.org/doctrine/who_is_satan.html
What do you think? When was the last time that you know Satan was blinding you from God’s will? What helped you see through his shenanigans? How can you use that in other instances?
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