Last blog we discussed Natas and I may have raised as many questions as I answered. First, let’s step back from the allegory of The Bridge from OneDayBow long enough to be reminded that it is an allegory. At face value it is an amusing story, but it is intended to reveal a deeper meaning on the spiritual level. It is also a parable, of sorts, designed to teach spiritual lessons. It’s for that reason that this blog was started and entitled, “The Story Behind the Story”, to better help you connect the dots from a Biblical perspective.

Part Two in the Trilogy of The Bridge from OneDayBow is “Stand”. Tim has entered the Kingdom and is now experiencing the reality of what was previously hidden from his view, and also coming to better understand the King’s Word that makes it all clear. Because my book is a fictional allegory, the illustrations are vivid and the story lines are contrived and somewhat exaggerated. It is intended to point to a spiritual reality that is described in the Bible but largely unseen in the here and now.  The Kingdom of God is real – even more real than what we can see with human eyes and hear with physical ears. But for now, as real as the Kingdom is, we continue to live in this world in real-time. That’s why it’s important to be a Bible student in the Kingdom!

In the Bible, the book of 2 Corinthians, chapter 4 and verse 4 refer to Satan as the god of the world. In fact, let’s read what it says:

”Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.”

Spiritually-blind is the natural state of every human being, and its origin is traced directly back to the Garden of Eden – which we talked about last blog (Genesis 3). Satan, in the form of the serpent, lied to Eve with the goal of deceiving her. Before you get hung up on “one bite of a piece of fruit”… and why was there a deceiving serpent in the Garden anyway…??? Eve had a very simple choice: believe her Creator God or believe another creature. The right choice seems obvious, but the wrong choice was made. Why? Because what she thought she wanted trumped what God said was true. (Why Adam decided to eat would require a whole lot of time and speculation and I don’t want to go there today!) As far as why the serpent was there; I don’t offer any further insight than to point out that his presence, and the temptation, proves that God has absolutely given free will to the creatures He has made. Free will can be considered the greatest possession but carries with it the deepest potential for pleasure or pain.

Satan has certainly stirred up a lot of trouble for humanity! God’s curse on this serpent began in the Garden, where his eventual demise was also foretold (Genesis 3:14-15). Satan’s days are numbered, but he is still currently the god (little g!) of this world. Sin didn’t end in the Garden. Sadly, its seed continued to grow.

It wasn’t just that one time, it wasn’t just that day,

It wasn’t just those first two who chose to disobey.

Deceived by self and Natas, the things people desired

Turned them from the King’s Truth and the faith He required.

This is the state of our world apart from the saving work of Jesus: under the power of Satan. Satan is real – despite popular opinion – and not believing he is real does not make him any less real! If anything, failing to believe in this very real enemy makes it easier for people to be deceived. Strangely, human actions often prove that Satan’s sly deception can be believed, even while refusing to believe he exists.  

For we who believe, this dual deception of Satan serves a surprising twist: knowing that he is real makes all the more certain that our God and His Kingdom are real!  And so is Jesus Christ Who conquered sin and death and will one day crush the serpent’s head!

As God’s children, we have been brought into His Kingdom and are no longer under the power of “the god (little g!) of this world”! And we can now help others to be free! But never miss that it’s all because of the very real love of God!