He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
Luke 10:18 (NIV)
There was a time, a long time ago, before the earth was created; when Satan was the second most beloved being in heaven, next to Almighty God the Holy Father and with the exception of Almighty God; Satan possessed more intelligence and strength than anyone else. One day, while Satan was watching the vast multitudes worshipping Almighty God; jealousy rose up within him, and he began to covet the throne of God. Then he convinced a third of the population to go to war, for this purpose. If Satan could entice a third of the angelic beings to follow him, in an attempt to overthrow Almighty God; then how much easier would it be for him to deceive humanity, when we are so much weaker and so fallible? And, if Satan had the intellect to confound the angels in heaven, who appreciated the glory of God; how much easier would it be for him to confuse us, so that we would be willing to follow the strange ideologies of this world, which he created? With that said: I would like you to consider the following questions please:
If you are a descendant of the children of Israel: Was it Hashem or Satan who tore you away from the teachings of Moses and the prophets, in order to study the commentaries and teachings of men? Did Hashem or Satan encourage you to carry a much heavier burden than Moses gave to your forefathers, in the wilderness of Sinai? Is Hashem or Satan enforcing the traditions that have since been added to the Laws of Moses? And, who do you think is most pleased by your observance of these traditions?
If you are a follower of Christ and profess to be a Christian: Did the Lord or Satan convince you to believe that the Old Testament was irrelevant and obsolete? Did the Lord or Satan convince you that the laws are unimportant and you do not have to obey them? Whose example do you think your behavior exemplifies the most, the Lord’s or Satan’s? (If you are not trying to obey the Ten Commandments, it is not the Lord.)
If you are a Muslim and a follower of Islam: Was it Allah or Satan who turned you away from the examples of Abraham and the Laws of Moses and led you to obey another teaching, other than that in the Word of God? Is it Allah or Satan who stirs the ashes of hatred and lights the flame of violence? Would Allah lift up and reward violent behavior or would he punish destructive behavior? When you praise Allah and thank him for the wisdom in order to destroy the infidels; is it Allah or Satan whom you have lifted up and honored? Do you honestly believe that the Lord would offer you 70 virgins, when you have not learned how to love one woman? Finally, how can you be so sure that you are not an infidel?
Now, for all of humanity, I ask: If you believe in a higher power and a supreme God and he was trying to create a perfect world, what kind of person would he want you to be? Would the Lord want you to be a loving, kind, compassionate person; who is fair and honest or one who is envious, deceitful, hateful, and worse―destructive?