So what's the truth behind the devil? Exactly who is he and why is he so eager to lead us to despair? I would venture to say that if polled the majority of Americans would probably define Satan (also known as the devil) and demons as perhaps real but one who doesn't really have any significant impact in our daily lives. Indeed, they might say, Satan and his minions are evil but they don't bother most people, only "evil" people such as murders, rapists, child abusers and the like. Maybe Adolph Hitler and Osama Bin Laden where "possessed" by the devil but never your everyday hard working American who pays his or her taxes and tries to make an honest living. Most Americans are "good" people and therefore, the devil wouldn't want anything to do with them. Some may define Satan and demons as a mere figment of someone’s creative imagination. Still others might say he does exist but since he doesn't bother them they could care less. The ironic thing about all of this is that not only do Satan and his demons exist but also, this is precisely how they want people to define them! Let's look at our sources first. Sacred Scripture says this about Satan:
"How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High." But you are brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the Pit." (Isaiah 14:12-15)
Jesus in the Gospel according to Luke, testifies to this when He said, "I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven" (Luke 10:18) after seventy of His disciples returned to Him proclaiming in amazement that even the demons were subject to them in His name.
Behind the disobedient choice of our first parents lurks a seductive voice, opposed to God, which makes the once good angels of light fall into death out of envy. (Cf. Genesis 3:1-5; Wisdom 2:24) The Church's Tradition and Doctrine recognizes in this revelation from Scripture a fallen angel, called "Satan" or the "devil". The Church teaches that Satan was at first a good angel, made by God: "The devil and the other demons were indeed created naturally good by God, but they became evil by their own doing." (Lateran Council IV (1215): DS 800.) Scripture speaks of a sin of these angels. (2 Peter 2:4) This "fall" consists in the free choice of these created spirits, who radically and irrevocably rejected God and his reign. We find a reflection of that rebellion in the tempter's words to our first parents: "You will be like God." (Genesis 3:5) The devil "has sinned from the beginning"; he is "a liar and the father of lies" (1 John 3:8: John 8:44)
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 391-393)
Satan and his demons do not have a case against us, but against God. Satan knows that he cannot defeat the Almighty so he goes after His children; he, therefore, comes after us. God, being our Creator and the Author of life, in an act of sheer goodness, created each and every one of us not for this world but for the next; In specific, to spend it with Him for eternity in heaven. Since God has given us free will, the ability to freely choose to love Him in return we, on our own account, can refuse His love and choose to be separated from Him. Subsequently, if we choose not to love God in return He, in an act of perfect justice, cosigns us to eternal damnation. This may seem harsh but the truth of the matter is, it is not God who sends us to hell but ourselves. We are the ones who actively and conscientiously choose to go to hell by way of our refusal of His immeasurable love and forgiveness.
Satan and his demons know that they have no hope. They are already destined for the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10) resulting from their disobedience toward God. In a sinister act of revenge they attempt to claim us and drag as many souls to hell as possible. In His kindness, God has paved the way for us to avoid being deceived by these fallen angels, by way of His Son, Jesus Christ, the revelation of Truth. The question is not one of what we believe to be correct but rather, what is correct according to how God has established it.
The father of lies (John 8:44) uses our weakness as humans to prevent us from knowing Truth. As a result, we are blinded to what is authentically right and wrong and base everything according to mere human reasoning alone. Only when we are introduced to Truth, to Jesus Christ, do we experience the presence of evil for what it truly is. If not united to God by way of His prescribed commands, we have no way of knowing when and how we are affected by the devil. We are, in essence, blinded by our own ignorance and we willingly follow the devil if we reject God or take Him and what He says lightly, without even recognizing it. (See John 8:12-59)
Satan and demons are real. Make no mistake about it. They are active in all of our lives in one form or another. Everything we do on a daily basis has eternal consequences. Our actions depict where we desire to spend eternity. Jesus tells us we will be judged by the fruit we bear. (Matthew 7:16; Matthew 12:33; Luke 6:44) Aren't our fruits according to Christ's call to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and give drink to the thirsty? Did we minister to those who are sick and/or in prison? These are the Corporal Acts of Mercy in which Jesus looks for in us, as being the fruit we need to bear in order to draw souls to His kingdom. (Matthew 25:44-46) Satan will influence us to do evil, to act contrary to what God has given us as the way to life. He wants us in hell with him and sadly most people fail to recognize the enormity of this. Viewed from God's eyes and according to His standards this world is heading to hell in a handbag and it doesn't even seem to care. Don't fool yourself in believing that hell will be some sort of party where you will not be held accountable for your actions and can behave anyway you want. We've heard this said many times, and perhaps in a joking manner, but nevertheless it is no laughing matter! Hell will not be a party but endless death and despair.
We say these things not as judges ourselves. For we rely on Gods mercy and forgiveness every single day. It is out of a sincere desire rooted in a love of God and neighbor to not see lives ruined and souls damned for eternity. It is a stern warning with which we feel God has placed in our hearts to share with the world. It is not exactly the most pleasant thing to talk about but an absolute necessity since this reality doesn't quite get the recognition it should. As much as we would like to inform the world, we need your help too!
May God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ in union with the Holy Spirit be with you always!
Copyright 2011 New Voice for Broken Souls All Rights Reserved.
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