WHY DOESN'T GOD DESTROY THE DEVIL?

     There is great comfort in knowing that one of these days Satan will go to his eternal doom. But many people are asking the question: Why doesn't God destroy him right now? Since he is the cause of so much evil in the world, then why does God allow him to continue on? Let us seek from the Word an answer to this perplexing question.  

GOD IS USING SATAN TO TRY UNSAVED PEOPLE  

     The working of Satan serves one good purpose. It gives men a chance to make their choice as free moral agents either for good or for evil. Without the ability to choose right or wrong, man would cease to be a human being. During the millennium, as we have already seen, the devil will be locked up in prison. Generations will grow up without having been tried by Satan. So the Lord will let the devil loose for a season in order to test the citizens of the millennium. A short period of time will then suffice to give them all an opportunity to make their choice, either for Satan, or for God. Rev. 20:7-8. This illustrates why God does not destroy Satan now. He uses Satan in order to try men.  

GOD IS USING SATAN TO TEST THE SAINTS  

     But not only does God use the devil to try the unsaved, He also uses him to test the Christians. There are various classes of Christians in the world. The reaction of any one to the testings of Satan soon enables the Lord to classify him without there being any doubt as to the justice of the classification.  

     But God lets Satan test the saints in order that the testing might be used to develop them into stronger Christians. Job 23:10: "But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." The testing seemeth grievous to us at the time, but afterward we realize that God allowed it for our own personal growth in the spiritual life.  

     There is consolation in the thought that God limits the amount of testing which He allows Satan to bring against us. When Satan was testing Simon Peter, the Lord Jesus said to Peter (Luke 22:31-32) "Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat; but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not." This indicates that Satan had to get permission to test Peter.  

     Also the devil had to get special permission from God before he was allowed to test Job. Job 1:12: "And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand." Job 2:6: "And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life." In each case the Lord gave Satan permission to test Job, but He limited him as to the amount of testing. This should be an encouragement to all saints being tested severely. 1 Corinthians 10:13: "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way of escape that ye may be able to bear it."  

     We should never forget that the power of Satan to-day is a permitted power. God is sovereign even over Satan. Before the death and resurrection of Christ the word in the New Testament used to describe the power of Satan was "dunamis" which means "untrammelled power" but after the resurrection his power is described by the Greek word "exousia" which means "a power derived from a higher and greater power". This latter word for Satan's power is the one used in such passages as Ephesians 2:2; Colossians 1:13; Acts 26:18 etc. Satan's present power is a derived power, a permitted power. God allows it because of great purposes served thereby.  

GOD IS USING SATAN IN ORDER TO GIVE CHRISTIANS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN HOW TO OVERCOME HIM  

     This is one of the strongest reasons for God permitting the continuance of Satan a little longer. He wants to develop a company of overcomers. Revelation in chapters 2 and 3 gives us seven great promises to those who overcome. It is indeed a glorious privilege to belong to this company. The rewards will be great. May each reader of this book determine to be one of them. First John 2:13: "I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one."  

"In the Overcomer's Name  

     Be an overcomer too!  

Stand, and put the foe to shame  

     All the livelong battle through!  

"Jesus is the Name to sound,  

     Name to rally fainting hearts!  

To recapture forfeit ground  

     Lost awhile through Satan's arts.  

"Backward drive the Evil One!  

     Force him out of every hold;  

Smite until the sinking sun  

     Sets upon the warrior bold!  

Stand, and put the foe to shame  

     All the livelong battle through!"  

"In the Overcomer's Name  

     Be an overcomer too!  

                                   -W. A. D.