On December 7, 1941, the nation of Japan launched a surprise attack on the U. S. Naval base at Pearl Harbor on Oahu Island, Hawaii. President Franklin D. Roosevelt immediately declared it “as a date that will live in infamy.” Japanese planes, numbering 350, destroyed nearly 170 aircraft and damaged another 160, with three ships destroyed and another 16 damaged. Most unfortunately, 3,700 Americans lost their lives, including 68 civilians.
A far worse attack occurred thousands of years ago in the least likely place ever imaginable, and that is in heaven. A high-ranking and powerful angel named Lucifer was not satisfied with his position in heaven, and came up with a plan to replace God Himself as the leader of the universe. He was not happy as an assistant to God but instead wanted to have God’s job. When God learned of his plan, He removed him from his position and kicked him out of heaven, along with all the angels who supported his rebellion.
When Lucifer was kicked out of heaven, his name was changed to Satan, and he immediately went about working against God on earth in every way possible, and attempting to destroy all the good that God had created. When he tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden, he took the form of a serpent, and he promised her that she could be like God. Genesis 3:5 records his promise: “For God knows that in the day you eat of it, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” Of course, he was talking about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, which God said was off limits to them.
Satan even tempted Jesus Himself after Jesus had spent 40 days fasting and praying. He first tempted Him to turn the stones on the ground into bread to prove He was the Son of God. He then tempted Him to jump off the top of the Temple and let the angels rescue Him. Finally, he promised to give Him all the kingdoms of the world if He would fall down and worship him. Of course, Jesus refused to do any of these things.
But one day, Satan will get what is coming to him, because Jesus tells us in Matthew 25:41 about “a place of everlasting fire that is prepared for the devil and his angels.” In Revelation 20, the apostle John writes about an angel from heaven with a key to a bottomless pit and a large chain, and that with them he will bound the devil, cast him into the bottomless pit, shut him up in it, and seal it. Just like the nation of Japan was ultimately defeated in World War II, so the devil will ultimately be defeated and will never deceive the nations of the world again. God will have the final victory, and all who choose to worship Him will share in that victory.
Larry R. Steffee is pastor of the Center Hill Brethren In Christ Church on Miller Road in Smithville. Everyone is welcome to attend. For information, you may email lrsteffeetn@yahoo.com.