Luke 4:5-8, "Then Satan took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them," the devil said "because they are mine to give to anyone I please. I will give it all to you if you will worship me."
I open my essay with the above verse. It is my hope to convince you that Satan is real and is part of our lives. Our Lord Christ Jesus knew Satan had real power and warned his followers. In Luke chapter 4, verses 5 thru 8 pretty much make my argument. However, there are other verses that may help convince my doubting readers that Satan is real and the ruler of this world and we must be alert for his presence in our lives.
Now, returning to the opening verses, let us look more closely. First, from these verses we know that Satan was tempting our Lord Christ Jesus during the time he was fasting for 40 days in the wilderness, all alone and without food. Imagine how difficult it must be to go without food for 40 days. I can hardly stand to go a day without food let alone 40 days. And, a normal man would have died long before he ever got near 40 days without food in the wilderness.
One more important thing to mention before we move on to another verse concerning Satan and his presence among us. Since Satan showed up to temp our Lord Christ Jesus, we should consider that Satan was tempting our Lord Christ Jesus with something of earthly value. If Satan was offering something that did not actually exist or have value, then it would not be a true temptation. Here again, is what Satan was offering our Lord Christ Jesus — the glory of ruling over all the kingdoms of earth and authority over them — therefore, Satan must actually control all the kingdoms of the world at that time. Otherwise, it would not be a true temptation and our Lord Christ Jesus would know that.
Have you ever wondered how Satan came to control all the kingdoms of the world? That is a good question, is it not? Has anybody given you a satisfactory answer? I believe that many people who read the verses in Luke chapter 4, verses 5 thru 8 cannot accept them as truth, since they strongly believe that our Lord God controls this world and Satan does not have that kind of power over our Lord God. And, of course, Satan does not have an inkling of the power our Lord God has. Still, we have been taught throughout our lives that our Lord God is in control on Earth, also in our lives, and decides our fate. If that were true, then our Lord God would not be a very nice Lord God at all. Instead, our Lord God would be slaughtering people without just cause and giving people cancer for some mysterious reason and millions of people would starve to death since our Lord God would take away the rain for months or years. And, we are not supposed to question our Lord God's wisdom in these matters. We are told our Lord God is so very intelligent that we cannot possibly understand his ways or reasons for doing the things he does. The reason we believe that our Lord God can do whatever he wants and not be wrong when thousands of people are made to suffer is due to the Old Testament. Our religious leaders and others convince us that the Lord God in the Old Testament is the same Lord God that is in the New Testament. Although, that is very hard to believe. And, the Holy Scriptures cannot be questioned since they are the very word of our Lord God. That leaves us trapped in this mindset except for one very good reason to think otherwise and that is our Lord Christ Jesus who came to this world to not only teach us that he is the way, the truth, and the light, and our only path to salvation but also to reveal our Father in heaven to us.
There are two verses in John chapter 14 where our Lord Christ Jesus tells his disciples this very thing. First, in John 14:6-7 which reads, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!" The second reference is in John 14:9-11 which reads, "Jesus replied, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don't know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father? So why are you asking me to show him to you? Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me."
It is through the life of our Lord Christ Jesus that we come to know our Father in heaven. Did our Lord Christ Jesus ever hurt anyone? Did he ever bring fire and brimstone to any town or city that rejected him or was very sinful? Did he ever turn anyone away who asked to be healed? Did Christ Jesus ever retaliate when he was being beaten mercilessly with a serrated whip or beaten in the face, or being spat on or stoned as he carried his cross to Golgotha? When he was nailed to the cross did our Lord Christ Jesus ever bring down wrath upon those present who were jeering and throwing stones at him while he was absolutely defenseless to deflect those painful and hurtful throws? No, he only showed humility and love, even to those hanging on crosses next to his. And, some of his last words were, "Father, please forgive them, for they know not what they do." Could you be so silent at a time like our Lord Christ Jesus had to suffer through? I know I could not. I would probably be begging for mercy. And, you know, Christ Jesus never cried out in pain. That much impressed the one Roman soldier who, after our Lord Christ Jesus died on the cross stated to his companions — this truly must have been the Son of God. Does not the life of our Lord Christ Jesus demonstrate very clearly that our Lord God has no evil in him? Pharisees He is the only one who is truly good and Christ Jesus' life reflects that patient, kind, compassionate, loving, forgiving, full of grace and mercy, with wisdom and justice for all his children kind of God. Not only for the Jew but the non-Jew as well.
Now, let us continue on with another quote from Luke chapter 11, verse 18 which reads, "But if Satan is divided and fighting against himself, how can his kingdom survive?" Of course, this verse was during the time our Lord Christ Jesus was being accused of being the prince of demons by the Pharisee’s. Would our Lord Christ Jesus take the time to argue a point unless that point was valid? I do not see Christ Jesus doing that. If Christ Jesus did argue an invalid point, would he not be deceiving the crowd? You see, Christ Jesus was explaining to the crowd and to the Pharisees that if Satan's kingdom was fighting against itself then it could not survive. Does not our Lord Christ Jesus statement', that Satan's kingdom on Earth would collapse if it was fighting against itself lends further credence that Satan does have a kingdom on Earth? You know, the last thing Satan wanted was to see his kingdom destroyed since that would mean his time as ruler of this world was ending. Then, Satan would soon find himself in hell burning alive.
John 12:30 reads, "The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out." One more verse which acknowledges that Satan is the ruler of this world. Once again, Christ Jesus is making it clear that Satan is the ruler of this world. I have a little more supporting evidence to present showing that Satan is the ruler of this world. And, later I will reveal to you how that came about. Next week we begin with Part Two.
End Part I
Inspired by The Holy Spirit
Typed by Wayne Hill