Lucifer - The Devil

Tradition tells us, that the devil, who is also called "Satan" or "the enemy," was created as a mighty and beautiful archangel, one of the most perfect and radiant, and for this reason he was given the name Lucifer, "the light-bearer". But when he chose to disobey the will of God, he fell and left his dwelling in heaven. Lucifer had been richly endowed by the Creator and should have ever held his eyes on the Lord, but instead he concentrated his attention on his own perfection, fell in love with it and was seized with pride. He forgot that he owed all to God, that all his perfections were the gift of God. He was so blinded by the idea of his own greatness and considered, "is there any who is equal to me? Any angel ... or God, even God Himself. I myself am divine, I myself am a divinity!" Satan rose against his Lord and took with him a large number of spirits who accepted his authority. The Archangel Michael took command of the angels who remained faithful to God, forming an army of angels, and entered into conflict with the fallen spirits. Long before the creation of the material world took place this war which was waged between the angels of light and the spirits of darkness. But light conquered darkness, and the rebels were hurled into the abyss.

 

What went wrong in Paradise?

Adam and Eve were happily engaged in their life in Paradise when a snake came to Eve.

Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, Has God indeed said, “You shall not eat of every tree of the garden”? And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.” Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. (Gen 3: 1-6)

See how cunning the snake is here? He tells no lies but twists the truth to mislead Eve. He tempted Her. He tricked her.
This is where sin and evil enters into the picture. Being made in the image and likeness of God Adam and Eve both had a free will. They could choose to stay faithful to God and do as He commanded or not.

Here we see both of them choosing to turn away from a trusting relationship with God. They ignore His commandments, thereby separating themselves from Him. This is the nature of sin - to separate from God and disobey Him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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