Satan’s Activities

“And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it” (Job 1: 7).

When Satan was summoned by God to present himself before Him, and God asked Satan, “Whence comest thou?” or in other words, from where did you come, or what were you doing when you left to come here? Satan’s response was, “From going to and fro in the earth, and walking up and down in it.” Later, Satan’s response to the same question is the same because his activities haven’t changed (Job 2: 2).

Satan said he was “going,” which means “moving along, advancing, and proceeding forward.” This means Satan is constantly on the go. He is not idle, but is along with all his demons and angels actively working to hurt the cause of Christ.

Satan said he was going “to and fro.” This means Satan was focused. He was going to a specific place or person to accomplish some evil work, and when it was done he went from it to another specific person or place to work again his evil plan.

Satan said he left “from walking up and down in it (earth).” Satan has access to all the earth. The earth is inhabited from the North Pole to the South Pole, and Satan travels between those poles to do his evil work. He is busy in both the northern and southern hemispheres.

Satan then says he is “walking” to where he wants to go. Satan is an angel and therefore a spirit and doesn’t actually walk. But he is not omnipresent either, and so he does have to leave one place to go to another place because he cannot be everywhere at once. By “walking” is meant, “to walk abroad, on, to and fro, up and down, to places.”

Satan says all his activity is on the earth. Satan says nothing about visiting some other planet in the universe. If he had visited another planet, he would have had to mention that in his answer to God. But all Satan’s activity is centered on the earth because there is not another planet with inhabitants on it. Earth, which is no bigger than a pen head, when viewed from outer space is,  where Satan with his army of demonic forces does all his evil work.

Satan’s activities include, but are not limited to keeping the lost in darkness (Acts 26: 18; 2 Cor. 4: 3), tempting to disobedience (Gen. 3: 4; 1 Chron. 21: 1), slandering the saints (Job 1: 9-11), opposing the righteous (Zech. 3: 1), removing the good seed (the word) from the heart (Mt. 13: 19), sowing tares among the wheat (Mt. 13: 38), lying (Jn. 8: 44), instigating men to sin (Jn. 13: 2; Acts 5: 3; 2 Cor. 12: 7; Eph. 2: 2; 1 Thess. 2: 18), leading churches astray from the true gospel (2 Cor. 11: 14, 15). We are not ignorant of Satan’s devices (schemes, stratagems) (2 Cor. 2: 11).

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about (to and fro, up and down), seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5: 8). (Rev. 2: 10).


As Long as there are Velvety Butterflies

 

As long as there are velvety butterflies

That kiss the fragrant noonday flowers,

Rejoicing in the sweetness they receive,

Then surely my Lord is still in power.

As long as there are fleecy little clouds,

That bring sweet rain from the salty sea,

To ripen the golden fields of grain,

Then I know there’s a God who cares for me.

As long as there are robins and sparrows,

Out gathering food for their small brood,

And squirrels filling their nest with acorns,

Then I know God is still gracious and good.

As long as there are wiggly tadpoles

Eagerly awaiting to become frogs,

There’ll be room for them in the crowded puddle

And then a place for them on the logs.

As long as there’s a sun and moon,

And millions of stars that hang on nothing,

And a winter, spring, summer and fall

Then I know God is still up to something.

As long as the sun still rises each morning,

And rain water makes it back to the sea,

And God counts every sparrow that falls,

I know God’s promises are still true for me.

As long as God gives me grace and breath,

Then life has meaning and purpose for me.

I rejoice to see all His marvelous works,

And the wonderful things He’s doing for me.

As long as I feel that tug at my heart;

And I’ve a wishful looking up t’ward the sky,

Then I believe Jesus could still come today,

And then I will tell this old world goodbye.

James H. Cagle

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