Adam and Eve were not created in a state of rebellion and sin. They were created incomplete. They needed the Spirit of God.

Jeremiah 17:9 reads: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Yet Genesis shows Adam and Eve to be “good” and obedient prior to the temptation by Satan. So when there are verses in the Bible that describe the evil, sinful nature of carnal-minded man, they are speaking of a human mind that has been deceived by Satan, like Eve—a mind that has Satan’s nature. A human being without God’s knowledge, who has been swayed and deceived by Satan’s nature, is one who is “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.”

Notice this simple, yet profound, definition of human nature, as written in Herbert W. Armstrong’s book The Missing Dimension in Sex: “Human nature is, simply, the subconscious pull of a definite attitude of mind. It is the attitude that became Satan’s. It is the natural attitude implanted from infancy by the invisible Satan. It is the attitude of vanity—of self-concern—of lust and greed. It is the attitude of hostility to others, and resentment of authority over it.” (Request your free copy of The Missing Dimension in Sex.)

Notice Romans 8:7: “Because the carnal mind [a mind apart from God’s Spirit] is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” When we understand that it is actually Satan’s nature in us and that we are not born with it, we can clearly understand why man is wicked and hostile toward God: because Satan hates God. And Satan powerfully broadcasts his lawless attitude.

If you want to really understand Satan’s power, look at Isaiah 14. “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God …” (verses 12-13). “Above the stars” means above all the angels—but Satan has even greater ambition than that.

Notice: “… I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High” (verses 13-14). Here God records Lucifer’s thoughts as he prepared an attempt to depose God and steal His throne! That was Lucifer’s ambition! It was an insane attempt against the all-powerful Creator, but Satan was so full of self-will, vanity and bitterness, he actually tried it.

“Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell [the grave], to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man [should read, one] that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms” (verses 15-16). This power actually shakes kingdoms and makes the Earth tremble! A lot of people on Earth tremble today because of this evil being and his fallen angels. These “stars” exert tremendous influence over men, because men absorb that same rebellious spirit.

The Emphasized Bible refers to Satan in verse 12 as “crusher of nations.” The American Standard Version says he “didst lay low the nations.” The Jerusalem Bible uses the phrase “enslaved the nations.”

Who today really believes that Satan has the power to crush nations or lay nations low or enslave nations? Do you believe Satan has power like that?

Your Bible says Satan and his demonic fallen stars have power over human beings and even nations! That is why they cause so many problems and get involved in such wars. They have nothing but bitterness and wrath in their minds because of their rebellion against God. That is the way it is when angels or when humans rebel against God. We enter into a bitterness that’s almost like an addiction to heroin. It is extremely dangerous.

And think about this: If he can do that to the nations, what can he do to you?

We must respect how great Satan’s power is and realize that only God can conquer it. Satan will do all he can to conquer us, and God wants us to draw on His power to conquer Satan instead. All those who are called during this present age must do so.

The Bible tells us how to protect ourselves from the devil very effectively. We must learn how to overcome Satan. If we submit ourselves to God and resist the devil, he will flee from us (James 4:7). God will show us how to conquer.

God assures us in His Word that we can conquer Satan. And He shows us how. With God on your side, you won’t have to fear the devil. You will always be a step ahead of him.

Those who do conquer and overcome the devil enjoy the kind of successful, happy, abundant lives that God wants all of us to live!

Why won’t men listen to God? Why won’t they quit worshiping the devil and heeding his message and refusing to hear God’s message?

You can turn your life around. You can conquer any problem that comes your way—if you will just obey what God tells you to do. That is the best thing you could ever do in your life.

For more on this topic, request my free booklet Overcoming Satan.