Satan's influence in our present world

In my past few posts I have been spending a lot of time speaking about Satan. I have discussed the time of Satan’s creation, his willful defiance resulting in his fall. I have mentioned the fact that there are some 40 different names given to Satan in the pages of the bible, each telling us a little something about his personality. In this last blog post on the topic of Satan I would like to point out his influence in our present world.

In Luke 4:5-7 we read an interesting story. It is the story of the Lord being taken by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted. During this temptation Satan appears to Jesus and takes him up onto a very high mountain. On top of this mountain the bible says that Satan showed all the kingdoms of the world to Jesus and told Him that if He would fall down and worship him that he would give Jesus all these kingdoms. What I find so interesting is that Jesus never tried to correct Satan.

I would have expected Jesus to say something like “Those are my kingdoms not yours.” Jesus corrected Satan on several different occasions during this time of temptation. Why not on this occasion? The reason that Jesus did not correct him was because he was speaking truth. This may shock you, but when Adam fell in the Garden of Eden, man lost his dominance in the world, and Satan gained it. Consider the following verses:

“Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.”   John 12:31

“Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.”   John 14:30

In the book of Ephesians, Satan is referred to as the “prince and the power of the air.” In the Revelation we are told that Satan has a throne among mankind. Satan rules and reigns in the world in which we live. Today the world sleeps in the lap of Satan. Very few even realize this is happening. The world rulers of our day do not take the powers of darkness seriously, nor does the common man.

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”   James 4:4

This presence is real today.

“And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is in the world.”   1 John 4:3

The world in which we live is a beautiful place. We have great cities with great buildings, works of art, theaters for entertainment, and museums of history. The world is a wonderful place. Do you realize that all of those things are under the control of Satan? When Satan goes down this world will go down with him.

This brings up a good question. How do we feel about this world in which we live? Are you in love with this world? Our country is filled with people who love this world. This world will go up in smoke one day; I wouldn’t fall too in love with it.

Today Satan has a trap for each of us. At this very hour Satan has something that he would love to destroy your life with. Satan has no mercy. If he gets you in a corner, he will destroy you.

One day soon God will do away with Satan. The bible tells us that he is doomed to spend eternity in the lake of fire. At this moment however he is our greatest enemy. The problem is that most of the world does not believe the enemy even exists.

We must be aware! Know that he is real. Know what his tactics are. Place your faith in Christ, and His word. God’s word will guide us in the right direction.