SATAN'S CLAIM IS LIMITED

"The devil is the prince of the world, not by the preference of God, but by His permission.

Satan's claim to a democratic victory is flawed, for man was created as God's subject, and has neither the power nor the authority to oust the eternal King in favor of another. We may choose to ignore God's sovereignty, but we cannot strip it from Him. Though sin disabled us to keep God's law, it does not excuse us from our need to keep it, or from the terms of God's government.

Finally, Satan presents a counterfeit deed of gift from God to claim the earth as his. This imposter is so brazen that he actually presented his worthless claim to Christ Himself, pretending to possess absolute power as the prince of this world. He showed our Lord all the earthly kingdoms and said, "All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it" Luke 4:6.

There was a truth here-- yet more than the truth. In a sense God did deliver this world to Satan, but not to do whatever he pleases. The devil is prince of the world, not by the preference of God, but by His permission. And God can revoke His permission at any time.

God's present concession to Satan's claim is temporary. From our limited human perspective, we must wonder why God allows His apostate creature to hold such a principality in the world. Why does He let this rebel parade with such pomp and arrogance before men and angels? There are several reasons we might consider.

First, to punish sin. Letting Satan crack his whip over man is one way God punishes rebellion: "Because you do not serve the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart... therefore you shall serve your enemies... in hunger" Deuteronomy 28:47,49. Satan is an overseer given in God's wrath. The devil is God's slave, and man the devil's. Sin has chained the creature to Satan, and now he drives him mercilessly.”

Thank God he gives us the free gift of Life in Jesus the Messiah.

Rom. 6:20   For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.  21 Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death.  22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.  23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617