Satan, Man's Greatest Enemy

Throughout the entire existence of mankind, a spiritual being known as Satan has been presented as the constant enemy of God and man, and his purpose and objective has been to overthrow man as God’s crowing creation and mar his happiness.  Satan is hungry and eager for our souls.  Satan acts always for the destruction of man and his well-being.  The apostle Peter warns us to be aware of the furious nature of Satan. “Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Satan is like a hungry lion, fierce, strong, cruel, and a greedy pursuer of man’s soul.  Satan walks throughout the earth, seeking whom he may devour.  His whole design is to devour and destroy souls.  To this end he is unwearied and restless in his malicious endeavors; for he is always, night and day, studying and contriving whom he may ensnare to their eternal ruin. 

The names and phrases used in the scriptures to describe Satan give us insight into his true nature:

           1) Satan – adversary or enemy

               2) Devil – accuser or slander

                   3) Serpent – treachery

                       4) Tempter – opponent

                           5) Prince of this world – great power and authority.

Satan is the enemy of man.  He is subtle, deceitful, and he grasps every opportunity to destroy us spiritually.  Satan accuses man to God, as he did with Job.  He is both a liar and a murderer.  Satan is the instigator of all sin and evil, which brings about spiritual death and separation from God.  Satan tempts, entices and induces men to sin.  He attacks mankind at their weakest point (Eve – alone). Satan will try to prevent people from believing in God by taking away the word out of the hearts of men, and blinding their minds to the truth.

Satan has two major powers under his control: 1) Physical death; 2) Spiritual death (Sin). 

Hebrews 2:14-15 says that Jesus Christ lived and died as a man in order to destroy Satan’s power over physical death. “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He himself likewise shared in the same, that through death he might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through the fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”  Mankind is promised the resurrection from physical death because of Christ’s resurrection from the dead.  He destroyed or broke Satan control over physical death.

Jesus Christ came to this earth to destroy Satan’s power of mankind and offer us the hope of eternal salvation with God.  Christ’s death upon the cross-provided us the opportunity to overcome our sins.  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).  Jesus Christ is the only one who can overcome the Devil.  We must be in Christ if we will have the victory over Satan.  Each one has to make a choice whom they will serve while we live upon this earth.  Who will you serve?