Satan
Our Drug Dealer
Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. ~ John 12:31
There is an unseen spiritual battle for our souls, and it's vital to understand that Satan is no fool. He is cunning, with centuries of experience in leading us astray. Consider this: if you were Satan, would you rely on obvious, terrifying tactics, or would you present yourself as something attractive and appealing? The Bible warns that Satan can disguise himself, even appearing as an "angel of light" to deceive us. In Ezekiel 28:12-13, he is described as beautiful and wise, a reminder that his methods are often subtle, cloaked in charm and allure.
Satan is like a persuasive drug dealer, and his drug is the world. He presents it as a dazzling array of attractions, hoping we'll get hooked. His goal is to make us forget about God, convincing us that we need worldly things, as if we can’t live without them. By keeping us addicted to fleeting pleasures, he blinds us to God and the promise of His eternal kingdom.
Satan preys on our flesh—the part of us that is self-centered and immature. Imagine a spoiled child who gets everything he wants: the child becomes demanding, ungrateful, and constantly needy. Satan uses the same tactic with us, feeding our desires until we become consumed by what we have, distracted and detached from what truly matters.
Satan knows that without God, we are left searching for love, identity, purpose, and meaning. Understanding our needs, he tempts us to seek fulfillment in the things of this world, offering false substitutes to keep us distracted. He hands us his “drugs,” convincing us that these are the paths to true meaning.
Remember, Satan rules this world and floods it with every possible "drug" to keep us hooked. He manipulates others, turning them into agents who sell the very addictions that trap them. Everywhere we look, the world tries to convince us we can’t live without something. It’s relentless—everywhere we turn, we're told to buy this, chase that, and work harder for more.
Satan's ultimate goal is to keep us from realizing that this world is a prison, with him as the warden, working tirelessly to separate us from God and our true home in His kingdom. If he can’t succeed by making us comfortable, addicted, and convinced that we deserve every pleasure, he’ll turn to another tactic: pain.
I remember a time, before becoming a Christian, when I would occasionally question the existence of God. Every time I did, something bad seemed to happen right afterward. Eventually, I began avoiding any thoughts of God altogether, unaware that it was Satan behind these discouraging experiences.
Satan’s tactics are far more subtle than we often realize. He knows our weaknesses and what tempts us, using our cynicism, pain, anger, and insecurities to his advantage. He exploits our limited understanding, weaving lies and schemes to mislead us. Often, he manipulates others to deceive us, drawing in our children, loved ones, and friends, making us feel as though we must follow along to avoid feeling alone and abandoned.
The only way we can fight against Satan, who is wiser than us, is to draw close to Christ. On our own, we are powerless, and attempting to confront Satan alone will always lead to defeat. Only Jesus can defeat him, so our best and only weapon is to ensure that Jesus is with us, fighting on our behalf.
Remember, Christ is portrayed as an average-looking man, with nothing outwardly striking about His appearance. In contrast, Satan is described as beautiful, full of charm and allure. God desires for us to see Jesus for who He truly is, beyond mere outward appearance—He wants us to recognize His heart and His mission of love and salvation. Satan, however, wants us to focus on the external, using his beauty to mask his lies and his evil intent to destroy us.
