The Great Controversy Between God and Satan
All humanity is now involved in a big debate that is going on between Christ and Satan. It’s about God’s character really. Simply put - is He fair? Can He be trusted? What about His rules for living by? Is He really in charge? Does He change His mind? Can Satan take over?
Understanding that this debate is going on helps us to answer the question, why did Jesus come to this planet? But first - how did human beings become involved?
Well this conflict started in heaven when a beautifully created being (Ezekiel 28:12-18), who had freedom of choice (Isaiah 14:12-14), used that choice to become arrogant and conceited. That’s the point when what could have been a power for good decided to be a power for evil. Satan, jealous and looking to seize control led some of the other angels in a doomed to fail takeover bid for control. (Revelation 12:4)
His (Satan’s) tail swept a third of the angels out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The spirit of rebellion was his invention and he’s been busy spreading it ever since. Remember how he influenced Eve? From these beginnings, the whole earth became confused, polluted with problems and doubt. Was God the divine protector, was He true to His word, after all Adam and Eve did not die when they ate the fruit from the tree (Genesis 3: 1-7).
However once that fruit was eaten the process of death and decay began. This wasn’t God’s plan. He had made them to live forever, but it was their choice and He had given them the right to make it. So, what next? Well then, Cain killed his brother Abel and bad stuff was happening everywhere, so many people were ignoring God’s rules for living that wickedness soon covered the earth. So much so that God used a great flood to cleanse the world of all those people who just wouldn’t listen or change for the better.
It was the only way to give the human race a fresh start. (Genesis 7:17-20). But even so Noah’s descendents continued to live a life outside of God’s laws and protection. People were hurting each other and themselves all over again. The world and the people in it were fairly messed up. It was getting harder and harder to understand a perfect God when everyone around was so, well, imperfect. There was a real shortage of good examples and clarification.
Satan used every opportunity to try and prove that God was wrong, unkind and too demanding (Remember the story of Job) trying to get people to mess up seems to be his only argument. On the other hand God repeatedly helped those that messed up, forgave those who broke his rules and found ways to give people a second chance whilst maintaining a fair system of justice.
But the argument is still going on and we are right in the middle of it. We sort of take sides by our actions and way of thinking. Jesus came to earth to show us a good and clear example of what God is like, so we could understand better. While here He also traded His life for ours to provide a way for all of us who need a second (or third or fourth etc) chance to get it and to get the help we need from Him to change for the better.
That’s how God’s character can really be seen it’s how he treats us when we mess up, how he traded a perfectly good son for a messed up person with potential. So next time you are tempted to do something that will only hurt you or others, or are feeling a little low or worthless remember there is a big debate going on and you are part of the proof. God’s voice is the one that says you have great potential, even when you’re down.
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