The Source of Darkness

Regardless of the vast differences that at times create barriers between humanity (i.e. religious differences, political differences, social differences, etc), there is one commonality that we all share: hardship. No matter what is or is not in a person's bank account, no matter how famous or unknown an individual is, no matter which political party a person supports, no matter how spiritual or non spiritual a person claims to be, we all experience various forms of hardship.

Maybe that hardship involves trauma, abuse, addiction, mental distress, chronic illness, death, relational tension, or a whole heap of other experiences. For thousands of years, humanity has done its very best to better understand suffering such as the source of it and how to endure or eradicate it.

And while I cannot speak for the other thousands of religious groups, belief systems, or ideologies that exist, I personally believe that suffering of any kind does not point to a non-existent, absent, disengaged, unloving, or cruel God. I do, however, believe that suffering is a result of God's enemy, Satan.

According to the historical accounts recorded in the Bible, “myriads” of angels were created prior to the creation of mankind, including the angel Lucifer, or later referred to as Satan. Many of these angels were to become “ministering spirits sent to serve” God’s people (Job 38:4-7, Revelation 5:11, Hebrews 1:14, ESV). Lucifer, however, wasn’t just any angel. He was the first Archangel that God created, and the most beautifully ornate of them all. He was anointed by God as the “guardian cherub”, divinely chosen to guard the “holy mountain of God”. And, until “unrighteousness was found in” him, God considered him to be “blameless in (his) ways from the day (he was) created” (Ezekiel 28:13-15, ESV). 
 
So, what happened?

Satan stopped wanting to worship God and instead desired to be worshiped as a god. Not only did he use his free will to choose to sin against God, but he influenced one-third of the other angels to follow his lead (Revelations 12:4, ESV).  As a result, God “cast” him out and “exposed” him before others, making an example of what happens when one rebels against God and leads others to do the same (Ezekiel 28: 16, 17, ESV). 

Jesus would later describe what this site was like in the heavenly realm when he shared with his disciples, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Luke 10:18, ESV).  So, what happened after Satan was banished from God’s heavenly kingdom? Well, he was given a lesser version of what his heart desired: temporary power, short-lived praise, easy-to-influence followers, and a corruptible, mortal earthly kingdom to reign over. 

Satan’s sole mission became to disguise himself in this earthly kingdom "as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14, ESV). This means that he facilitates and motivates generations, movements, messages, and agendas that are packaged as truth, love, wisdom, intelligence, logic, and enlightenment, but whose end is spiritual (and sometimes physical) destruction. When Satan comes into our communities, homes, and hearts, he “comes to steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10-19, ESV). Satan brought about illness, death, heartache, deception, abuse, and every other form of evil, darkness, wickedness and hardship.

You might be wondering, "So why didn't God just destroy Satan the moment he rebelled?" Though I’m no scholar, I believe this decision was based around two possible reasons. 

The first, God only wishes for his creation, including the angels, to follow him by choice (free-will) as a product of love—not by force as a primary product of fear.  The second,  if the most cherished and anointed angel could misuse free-will to reject God, it would only be a matter of time before others did the same.

God, I believe, wanted his creation to have a choice then, and now. In His wisdom, He knew that many more would misuse free-will to follow in Satan’s footsteps. So, He gave Satan temporary reign over his earthly “kingdom”, though he will one day “come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever” (Ezekiel 28:19, ESV). As 1 John 4:4 says, though Satan is great in this world, God and His Spirit in us are even greater!

As disheartening or confusing as it may feel to learn that Satan and one-third of the angels have any level of reign over humanity which leads to every form of darkness and hardship, I find great comfort in knowing that two-thirds of the angels remained with God and continue to minister to and serve those of us who choose to walk in God’s light and according to God’s truth. 

Hardship will not have the final say for those who choose to walk in the freedom of God's truth, love, peace, protection, guidance, forgiveness, strength, community, and light.