When I’m out on the streets sharing the gospel, a question I'm often asked is “How can there be a God when so many terrible things happen in this world?” The answer I give is that we live in a fallen world largely ruled by Satan. The frequently heard phrase “God is in control” only applies to people who have submitted their lives to Him. 2 Corinthians 4:4 (KJV) refers to the devil as “the god of this world” who blinds the minds of nonbelievers.

Before I became a Christian, I questioned the existence of the devil. While serving in the Army, my platoon was camping in a field one night when a few of the men started talking about spiritual things. One soldier claimed that the devil is real and initially presents himself as a beautiful person. Like most people, I pictured the devil as some fantasy character with horns, pointed tail, and a pitchfork. I would later learn that Satan destroys peoples’ lives even if they don’t believe he exists. The prince of darkness was in the process of destroying mine until I came to Christ a few years later. Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

Some people refer to natural disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes as “acts of God.” If that’s the case, then Jesus went against the Father’s will when He rebuked a storm while riding in a boat with His disciples (Mark 4:39). Notice that this storm preceded Jesus delivering a demon-possessed man in Mark chapter 5. Satan is "the prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2) who stirs up "storms" when God's people are on the verge of a breakthrough. The enemy has often attacked me with perverted dreams just before I received a major blessing or revelation. As Joyce Meyer says, “New Level, New Devil.”

There are also folks who believe God puts sickness on people to teach them a lesson. If this were true, then wouldn't these same people go against God's will by taking medicine to get well? The wording of some Old Testament Scriptures makes it appear that God is the author of sickness. For example, Exodus 15:26 says, "If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you." Verbs in the Hebrew language can be used either in a causative or a permissive sense. Since Jesus healed everyone that approached Him, why would the Father put sickness on anyone? A loving earthly father wouldn’t purposely make his children sick. A more accurate rendering of Exodus 15:26 would be that God will not ALLOW sickness to come upon His people if they obey Him.

The Bible says Satan is the one who attacks people’s health…

• “So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.” (Job 2:7)
• "So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound--think of it--for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?" (Luke 13:16)
• “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” (Acts 10:38)

Once I saw written on a tombstone; “the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away.” (Job 1:21 KJV) This is not a statement of truth but a comment Job made in ignorance. 1 Timothy 6:17 says God "...gives us richly all things to enjoy." Job's troubles resulted from him worrying too much; “For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me.” (Job 3:25) Fear attracts Satan just like faith attracts God.

UP JUMPED THE DEVIL

You might ask why God created this evil being. The devil wasn't always God's opponent. Before the creation of man, Satan was an archangel who led one third of the angelic host in a failed coup against God. Another name often used for the devil is Lucifer, which is actually a Latin word meaning "light-bearer." 2 Corinthians 11:14 says that Satan "…transforms himself into an angel of light." Lucifer's downfall is recorded in Isaiah 14…

12 "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations!
13 For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.'
15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit."

And in Ezekiel 28…

12 "You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created.
14 You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.
15 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you."

Lucifer’s heart became puffed up with pride because of his beauty. He later became the god of this world when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. For the next 4,000 years, Satan had dominion over the human race until Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection stripped him of his authority. Colossians 2:15 says, “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” Christians that know who their real enemy is and exercise their authority over him can be victorious in every area of life.

But be forewarned: Satan doesn’t lie around dormant just because he is a defeated foe. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” Recently I watched a DVD of the classic motion picture “Tora! Tora! Tora!" which dramatizes in detail Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. What I found interesting was that the United States government had enough information and the resources to counter the attack but didn’t take appropriate action, resulting in destruction and deaths. Likewise the devil can cause problems in our own lives if we let our guard down.

One afternoon while evangelizing in Berlin, my German friend Stefan and I approached a group of teenagers in a park. Three of the kids were interested in the gospel but some of the others made obnoxious comments, one of who grabbed a hose and squirted water on us. I ran over to fold the hose so water stopped pouring out. Two other kids joined the other to try to pull the hose out of my hands. Not wanting to play tug-of-war, I let go of the hose and got a neighbor to shut off the water. The Lord then reminded me "…we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12) Stefan and I should have prayed more and also taken authority over the evil spirits influencing the obnoxious kids. Nevertheless, three salvations resulted in this spiritual battle.

The devil's maneuvers can be stopped by praising the Lord, quoting Scripture, pleading the blood of Jesus, and using Jesus' Name. James 4:7 says, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Too many believers ignore the first part of that verse. You can rebuke Satan all day long but he will not flee from you if your life is not totally submitted to God. The Bible commands us to “give no place to the devil" (Ephesians 4:27) and to “avoid all appearance of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:22 KJV) Christian parents who think it's okay to let their children dress up in scary costumes and go “trick or treating” on Halloween should reexamine their beliefs in the light of those Scriptures.

IT'S YOUR CHOICE

Comedian Flip Wilson was famous for saying, “The devil made me do it!” But unless someone is truly demon-possessed, the devil cannot make anyone do anything. 1 John 4:4 says, "...greater is he [Christ] that is in you, than he [Satan] that is in the world." Man can choose to sin if he wills to do so but God always provides a way of escape. The only tools the devil can use against man are temptation and deception. 2 Corinthians 2:11 cautions us not to be ignorant of his devices.

People have wondered why God allows Satan to exist if He loves us so much. Real love is a decision. God wants man to choose to love Him. During the seven-year tribulation period, many people will be confronted with making that decision, which will result in natural or spiritual death. Having great wrath knowing “…he has a short time” (see Revelation 12:12), the devil will set up the “mark of the beast” system in an attempt to control every person on earth. Individuals who refuse this mark will be beheaded but will have eternal life in heaven. People who accept the mark will damn their souls forever.

When Jesus Christ returns to establish His millennial reign, Satan will be bound and cast into a bottomless pit, "…so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.” (Revelation 20:2-3) Even after 1000 years of peace and prosperity, numerous people will still side with the devil and fight against God. This final satanic rebellion will be quickly crushed.

God originally didn’t create hell for man but a place “…prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matthew 25:41) Unfortunately many people will go there because they didn’t receive God’s free gift of salvation. Some mistakenly think they will go to heaven just because they believe in God. James 2:19 says that even the demons believe there is a God...and tremble! Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3).

If you are uncertain of your relationship with the Lord and want to make absolutely sure you won’t wind up in hell, then please say this prayer out loud…

"God in Heaven, I know I'm a sinner and I need Your help. I believe in my heart that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins and rose again from the dead. Jesus, come into my heart, make Yourself real to me, cleanse me and protect me with Your precious blood, fill me with the Holy Spirit, keep me away from sin, be my Lord and Savior. Amen."