Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (JN 8:32)

Living

Saturday, Feb 11, 2012

A Bad Choice

0
By Greg Laurie , Christian Post Contributor
July 17, 2009|4:12 pm

"How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!" - Isaiah 14:12

As a pastor, I often hear the question, "Where did the devil come from?" Sometimes, it is phrased this way: "How could a God of love create someone as horrible as the devil?"

We just can't understand why God would make such a creature.

First of all, let me say that God did not create someone as horrible as the devil. The devil became this way. He made a deliberate choice that turned him into what he is today: an intelligent, wicked, spiritual being who is bent on the destruction of humanity

In fact, I find it interesting to read in the first chapter of Genesis that God saw everything He had made and it was good (see Genesis 1:31). So apparently at that point, all the angels were still under God's direction. There was no rebellion.

But then in Genesis 3, we see the serpent, or Satan, tempting Eve. Something drastic happened between Genesis 1 and Genesis 3. This once high-ranking, beautiful angel known as Lucifer rebelled against God.

Like us on Facebook

You see, Lucifer was not satisfied with worshipping God. He himself wanted to be worshipped. So he lost his former, exalted position in heaven.

By the way, Lucifer means "son of the morning," which he was. But Satan means "accuser," which he is. So Lucifer became Satan when he fell.

He lived with God in heaven, but because of his bad choice, his destination is a bottomless pit and a lake of fire and brimstone forever.

Copyright © 2009 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000

Used with Permission
0
Top Stories

Evangelicals 'Outraged' by Obama's Contraceptive Compromise

President Obama's attempt at a "compromise" in ...

Santorum Brushes Off Money Concerns, Blasts Obama on Religious Freedom

Rick Santorum disregarded Mitt Romney's money-flush campaign in his CPAC 2012 address saying that the presidential race is not about who has the most cash, but about stopping Barack Obama and his growing grip on American freedoms.

Elevation, 50 NC Churches to Serve Homeless for LOVE Week

Over 50 churches in the Charlotte, N.C.-area will ...

Lawsuit Claims Unlawful Distribution of 'Charitable Assets' by TBN Directors

A lawsuit recently filed by the former head of finance for the Trinity Broadcasting Network claims that the directors of the widely-viewed Christian television network have illegally taken advantage of more than $50 million in "charitable assets" for their own good.