What do these images have in common?
You may say something like,
“Well from time-to-time I act like they’re real. But in the back of my mind I know these personatlities really have no great influence on my personal life. Santa really doesn’t bring toys on Christmas Eve; Superman really doesn’t fly around rescuing people; and Satan really doesn’t know who I am and has no personal interest in me. Bottom line- NONE of these are a big deal.”
It’s been my experience that many live as if “Satan” is in the same category as superheroes like Superman and folklore like Santa Claus.
SANTA DOESN’T EXIST BUT WE LIVE AS HE DOES.
I’m afraid most children and grandchildren-and some adults-know more about Santa, than Satan 🙁
Every year we seem to remind our children about “Santa Claus.”
We talk about Santa starting as early as July. We see movies and pictures featuring Santa. We can go to the mall and meet him. We send letters to Santa via the United States Post Office-and he gets them! On December 24 we track him on our phone app flying around the world and we tell our children to go to bed early because Santa is coming. The next morning dozens of new presents arrive under our tree from guess who? Santa.
We know Santa lives in the “North Pole;” Gets around on a “magical sleigh;” Is “jolly;” Keeps a list of who is “naughty or nice;” etc etc
Nevertheless, the truth:
There is no Santa!
SATAN DOES EXIST BUT WE LIVE LIKE HE DOESN’T.
How much do you know about Satan? How often do you talk about Satan with your children and grandchildren? What is Satan’s personality like? Most of us know virtually nothing about Satan. We rarely talk about him. Many have no clue what he actually looks like; Where he lives; Where do we go to meet him; What he actually does for a living; etc etc
Nevertheless, the truth:
There is a Satan!
Unlike Santa, Satan does a fine job in staying below the radar.
“… Satan telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—” 2 Nephi 28:22
And we believe him!
For being “REAL” Satan is far more successful in being “FAKE” than Santa Claus, who is “FAKE” but is far more successful in being “REAL.”
Why do we know so little about someone, who has so much influence in our daily lives?
It’s part of God’s Plan of Happiness to allow Satan the opportunity to deceive us.
Since the beginning of time, Satan, with his hosts … have waged relentless war … Those who teach that there is no devil or who declare him to be a figment of the imagination used only to frighten people are either ignorant of the facts or they themselves are deceived. (Elray L. Christiansen, Power Over Satan, General Conference Oct 1974).
Satan’s influence increases over us as we remain ignorant of him and his war strategies. Some of Satan’s most powerful devices require him to remain hidden and appear powerless.
SATAN HAS MARVELOUS POWERS
Satan is a spirit son of God who was once an angel
“in authority in the presence of God”
(D&C 76:25; Isaiah 14:12; D&C 76:26–27).
Notice how Joseph Smith talks about Satan’s power:
“I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction. . . . Not to an imaginary ruin but [by] the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being.“ Joseph Smith 1:16
You think Santa has the edge by magically coming down the chimney, think of this: Satan persuaded “a third part of the hosts of heaven” to turn away from God. (D&C 29:36) … while in the very presence of God the Father and Jesus!
How powerful is that?
The following statement is “True” – In the preexistence Satan was an angel of God who was in authority. At one point Satan was one of God’s finest!
See the quiz What is Your Satan IQ?
CONCLUSION
“Satan has had great success with this gullible generation. As a consequence, literally hosts of people have been victimized by him and his angels.“ James E. Faust, The Great Imitator, Ensign, Nov. 1987
From time-to-time as Satan sits back and observes his success in reigning with “blood and horror” during these last days- If I pause for a moment, I imagine him saying:
“Ho Ho Ho jokes on you.“ See Moses 7:26
Learning about Satan generates a soberness of thought.
dr rick