The Culprit Behind Every Crisis

Why Are You Letting This Happen God?

The pit of my stomach churned, ready to expel any food or drink I placed in it.
Time seemed to linger, making the agony of my pain and loneliness last so much
longer. I could feel my body in shock--hands trembling, heart racing, heavy
limbs--all I wanted was to fall asleep. The separation from the one I loved had
shattered a life that I had lived for over four years--a life I was comfortable
with, and although I had often taken it for granted and not appreciated it as I
should have, the shock of losing it was devastating. The future was black and
unapproachable. The emptiness that replaced the frequent visits and times together
was overwhelming. It was like a part of me had died. Everything I viewed was
different--my work, my surroundings and my associations with people. Dark, heavy
feelings pressed me down to the point where death seemed dearer than dealing with
whatever lay ahead. "Why God? Why did you let this happen to me? I don't deserve
this. I know nobody in this town. I'm alone now. If only I can get back with the
one I love. Please God, please get me out of this. You can't let this happen. I
can't cope. I think I will die if you don't do something!" My desperation and
despair destroyed my logic. The "why's, where's" and "when's" tumbled through my
mind in a mixed and random order. Over and over again, with no breaks for me to
rest. As night finally approached, sleep would not come to suppress the milling
memories and the constant questions. I would lie down, only to toss and turn for
hours, and when I could stand it no longer, I would get up and pace the confines
of my small bachelor apartment till I was tired enough to lie down again. Would
there ever be a way out of this?

All over this planet, people are facing a personal crisis unique to their
circumstances. At one point in their life or another, each individual is cornered
by disturbing dilemmas or crushing calamities. The gruesome graphics that crowded
the Television screens in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, was a visible
portrayal of what so many people have to deal with. Prior to this event, and in
the days following it, people around the world continue to be bombarded with
unsettling, sad and sorrow-filled situations. (See picture below)

People facing broken relationships that end up in divorce and separation; people
losing their jobs and having to cope with financial pressures; people having lost
loved ones through terminal diseases, natural disasters or fatal accidents; people
so stressed by their circumstances that their minds slide into deep, dark depths
of depression--not able to react to everyday situations in a normal, rational way;
people addicted to substances ranging from alcohol to tobacco, from anti-
depressant medication to hardcore cocaine; people using religion to conceal the
struggles within themselves regarding their confusion between right and wrong, and
criticizing everyone around them that do things they themselves would like to do;
people enslaved by an unseen compulsion to satisfy themselves, but not knowing
what it really is that would bring them satisfaction. As the darkness and despair
surround people in their "custom cut" circumstances, uniquely tailored to touch
the tenderest terrain of their existence, the common cry echoes out, "Why God, why
did you let this happen to me? I don't deserve to suffer like this. People around
me are enjoying their lives, and here I sit, suffering in misery."

The Culprit Behind Each Crisis

As I look back on one of the darkest times of my life, July 1990, when I lost
someone I loved more than I can express, I can now see who the culprit of my
crisis was. God in His mercy reached out and saved me from wanting to kill myself.
At this lowest of low points in my life, I picked up the phone and called one of
the only friends I knew would be there for me. When he heard the choked up voice
on the other end of the phone, and he responded promptly to come to my aid.
Although it was Christmas time, he left his family behind and drove 6 hours to
come spend time with me. As we spent time together, he showed me from the bible
what it takes to know God. From that day, I have searched the scriptures every day
in order to know God better and be aware of who is the real culprit behind every
crisis. You see, there is an unseen force out to destroy you and I. It's not too
clear, because this force wants to remain hidden and invisible. Studying the bible
daily is the only way a spiritually blind human can begin unmasking the true enemy
behind every emergency and destructive disaster. This is what I learnt.

(In the book of Esther, Haman erected gallows especially to kill Mordecai---but
his plot went much further than that!)

I was reading the book of Esther--for the third time. The first couple of times I
saw the book of Esther as a touching romantic story where a woman of integrity
saves her people from extinction, and demonstrates a "Messianic" prototype.
Reading the book of Esther this time was different. I saw something that horrified
me and simultaneously simplified a mystery that I had wrestled with for many
years. You see, the way I study the bible opened up a comprehensive understanding
as to who is the true culprit behind every crisis. (Click here to view the way I
study the bible, or view it at the end of the beautiful study my friend showed
me). The stage is set in the book of Esther by the dismissal of Queen Vashti by
King Xerxes the king of Medo-Persia. The Israelites had been captured by the
Babylonians and were living in this foreign country. The Medo-Persians had
conquered Babylon and controlled the then known civilized world. The king now
sends word throughout his kingdom for all young virgins to audition for his harem,
one of which would be chosen as queen. Well, without getting too carried away with
the finer details of the story, it is important to see that Esther is sent to the
palace by her uncle Mordecai, who was an attendant that sat at the king's gate.
One of the king's nobles named Haman, was honored by the king and made higher than
any of the king's nobles. All the people paid homage to Haman by bowing down as he
passed by, except Mordecai the Jew, who only bowed down to his God. This enraged
Haman, who plotted to kill Mordecai by hanging him on the gallows. Now read this
in Esther 3:6, "Yet having learned who Mordecai's people were, he scorned the idea
of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai's
people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes." I was stunned. "All
Mordecai's people? Just because one man wouldn't bow down to another man?
Diabolical! Evil! Wicked! Corrupt!

The next day when I read through my new testament passages, it all made started
making sense to me. Haman wasn't really Mordecai's enemy, he was just the 'front
man' that the true enemy was working through. Read the following text:

Ephesians 6:12
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against
the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual
forces of evil in the heavenly places.
In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul expands that thought by saying that our fight
is not against flesh and blood, or in other words, against other people around us.
No our fight is against the unseen evil forces that work through other humans. The
insight that the book of Esther brings to us is this. As the whole drama unfolds,
Esther exposes Haman's evil plot and the King is informed as to who engineered the
decree to have the Jews annihilated. The king turns around and has Haman hanged on
the very gallows that he built for Mordecai. You see, Satan didn't just want
Mordecai, Esther and the Jews destroyed, but if at all possible, he wanted the
king, Haman and the Persians destroyed. We'll look at this aspect a little later
in more detail. For now, we need to see that Satan is out to destroy mankind--
good, evil, rich, poor, male, female, slave, free, and yes, you and me--everyone!

(If Satan had his way, he would have destroyed the whole of New York, Washington,
and cities in Pennsylvania---actually the whole of the United States)

As we dust off the history books and flip through their tragic pages, we can see
that Satan has no favorites. His goal is to destroy all mankind. One would think
that Satan wanted to destroy only the Jews in the Holocaust, and favor Hitler and
all his diabolical officers, the apparent masterminds behind it all. Wrong! Satan
was the mastermind behind it all and he wanted Hitler and his officers dead too!
One would think that Satan favored the Tutsi tribe in the Ruandan genocide where
hundreds of thousands of Hutu's were slaughtered. Wrong! Satan made sure that the
Hutu's came back and massacred thousands of the Tutsi tribe. One would think that
Satan is on the side of the Muslim extremists that killed over five thousand
innocent people in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Wrong! Satan wants
them dead too, and those who piloted those planes are dead, and that's just what
he wanted. He is the one inflaming the mind of Osama bin Laden with the sinister
schemes to destroy any life in the free world, knowing full well that the USA and
Britain will react with war and wipe out thousands of Al Qaeda and Taliban forces.
Satan's mission is accomplished: Destroying as much of mankind as he can but their
own free choosing.

The Cause of His Compulsion

There you sit, confused, bewildered, wounded. "My loved one hurt me," you say, "It
wasn't Satan." Someone else says, "My boss unfairly fired me, it wasn't Satan."
And so countless people divert the blame to where they think it is coming from--
parents, pastors, teachers, marriage partners, family members, close friends,
neighbors, or on a bigger scale, nations look to other national leaders and
governments--no-one looks to the unseen, evil fiend that lurks unnoticed in the
background--influencing, instigating, infiltrating. Take a look at the evidences
that the scriptures give that Satan is truly the 'conspirator' behind every
hurtful and harmful incident. You see, something happened in his past that made
him opposed to anything and everything that has God's fingerprints on it. Satan
used to hold the highest position among the angels. He was their magnificent and
talented leader. He held the respect and honor of all the angels and met with
Godhead regularly. Nevertheless, when he was excluded from being able to perform
the Mighty Acts of God, such as creating the worlds, he was venomously jealous and
embittered.

(Satan wanted to be above God and perform the works of God---like creating the
wonderful works like God did---when he couldn't, he was venomously embittered
against all of God's creation)

He began spreading inflammatory messages about the work of the Godhead and incited
a coalition between himself and the angels against God. He accused God of not
being fair in His dealing with His creatures and that it was impossible to adhere
to God's system of government--a system where the Creator and Leader of the
Universe was the servant and least among His creatures . . . a system that
functioned on unconditional love and unfathomable generosity and kindness. This
was the government that Satan formed a rebellion against--a rebellion born because
he couldn't advance higher in a system where the greatest was the least. Read what
the scriptures say about Satan's quest for equality his desire to rise above God:

Isaiah 14:13
You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the
stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights
of the sacred mountain. I will ascent above the tops of the clouds; I will make
myself like the Most High."
Lucifer's ambitious pursuits for God's power and position were futile. As a
created being, he could never be God or acquire God's abilities. The only way to
vent his deep seated anger that came from his covetous exploits, was to muster the
largest possible rebellion in heaven. God would not destroy this uprising, but, in
keeping with His government of love, He banished Satan from the heavenly courts.
He allowed him access to the newly created paradise--the creation of which, he
Satan, wanted to be a part, but could not.

Satan's Primary Goal--Total Annihilation of Mankind

Satan, restrained by God's control and protection of the newly created
inhabitants, was allowed to test their freedom of choice--but his hatred for
anything that God had made and initiated could only escalate. From the time Satan
was banished to our planet, he has loathed and despised everything that came from
God's Hand--all creatures, all of nature, all marriages, all abilities, all
potential to grow toward Godliness. See what scripture says about Satan, his work
and his attitude toward us:

1 Peter 5:8
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring
lion looking for someone to devour.
Revelation 12:9, 12
The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil or Satan,
who leads the whole world astray . . . woe to the earth and the sea, because the
devil has done down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time
is short.

(This lion looks tame in comparison with the wild fury that Satan wants to tear
you and I apart with)

The story of Haman's plot to annihilate the Jews is symbolic of Satan's plot to
annihilate mankind. If Satan had his way, he would destroy you in a heartbeat. If
Satan had his way, he would bring the sun thousands of miles closer to the earth
and burn it up in a hellish holocaust--or steer the sun thousands of miles further
in it's orbit and destroy our planet in a fatal freeze. Whether by natural
disasters or nuclear devastation, Satan wants everything that has come from God's
hand obliterated--not only God fearing people, but his own dedicated followers,
the ignorant and those he has mislead--all those created by God. The unbelievable,
cowardice, devastating events of September 11, 2001, are minimal compared to what
Satan wants to accomplish. If he could have had a nuclear bomb on board each of
the four planes, and vaporized New York, Washington D.C., and a city in
Pennsylvania, he would have been happier. The more death and destruction he can
deliver, the more delighted he is.

Satan's Secondary Goal--Total Infiltration

If Satan cannot orchestrate a plot of total annihilation of mankind by any means,
he will go ahead and summon his unseen servants to infiltrate every possible
situation with satanic influences. His strategy is simple and effective. As Roger
Morneau, a convert from Satanism quotes a Satanic priest saying:

More Incredible Answers to Prayer - Roger J. Morneau p. 58

"At that time," the priest said, "the master (Satan) stated that he and his angels
would make themselves invisible to human beings also, thus leaving people free to
live their lives as they wanted to. He emphatically argued that the only fair way
for supernatural forces to influence human conduct should be by flashing thought
images into individual minds."

Ellen White uncovers more of Satan's strategy in the following quote:

Great Controversy, p. 516-517

"None are in greater danger from the influence of evil spirits than those who,
notwithstanding the direct and ample testimony of the Scriptures, deny the
existence and agency of the devil and his angels. So long as we are ignorant of
their wiles, they have almost inconceivable advantage; many give heed to their
suggestions while they suppose themselves to be following the dictates of their
own wisdom. This is why, as we approach the close of time, when Satan is to work
with greatest power to deceive and destroy, he spreads everywhere the belief that
he does not exist. It is his policy to conceal himself and his manner of working .
. . And it is because Satan can most readily control the minds of those who are
unconscious of his influence, that the word of God gives us so many examples of
his malignant work, unveiling before us his secret forces, and thus placing us on
guard against his assaults."

(Satan wants people to carry on with their lives as if he doesn't exist---then,

unseen and without warning, he attacks)

How ingenious! Now wonder the masses walk blindly into the lethal traps that he
sets for them--think of how your life has been afflicted by the unseen thought
images and masked evil attacks through the lives of people around you. If Satan
cannot succeed in a scheme to kill you, he works at the recurrent raids on your
mind, on disrupting the intimate associations that are dear to you, and plaguing
you with constant temptations in the areas you are the weakest. Oh, he doesn't
face you down man to man--even if he is far, far stronger than you are. No, he
brings unseen attacks, he trips you up when you're not looking, he invades your
mind when you're asleep, he strikes you with blows that come from another
vulnerable victim--someone close and precious to you. Yeah man, talk of a force
that is much more powerful than any human force, but yet stoops to cowardly
tactics to trick and entangle it's victims.
What a tragedy. To see the millions of people, unsuspecting of the lying legions
that lead them into crisis after crisis and into being captives in their
circumstances of calamity.

The Desire of Ages, Ellen White, p. 341

Satan's influence is constantly exerted upon men to distract the senses, control
the mind for evil, and incite to violence and crime. He weakens the body, darkens
the intellect, and debases the soul. Whenever men reject the Savior's invitation,
they are yielding themselves to Satan. Multitudes in every department in life, in
the home, in business, and even in the church, are doing this today. It is because
of this that violence and crime have overspread the earth, and moral darkness,
like the pall of death, enshrouds the habitations of men. Through his specious
temptations Satan leads men to worse and worse evils, till utter depravity and
ruin are the result. The only safeguard against his power is found in the presence
of Jesus.
Who or What Are You Fighting?
What chance do you and I stand against an unseen, attacking enemy that we don't
even believe exists? It's going to take a very unique, supernatural strategy to
first of all step up our awareness of these attacks, and secondly, to be able to
withstand them. Who are you fighting in your struggle to make sense of the
hardships and the heartaches in your life?

(Who are you fighting against? Have you identified the true enemy, or are you
tricked into fighting someone or something that the true enemy is behind . . .?)

Are you battling against a person in your family, an ex-husband or wife, a

supervisor at work, or with someone at your church? Are you at war with horrific
memories from past childhood abuses, whether they be physical, sexual or
emotional? Are you angry and bitter because of neglect and lack of opportunity in
your life compared to so many other people that have prospered due to support and
good fortune? Are you pinned in a deadlock in your attempts to wrestle an
addiction to something in your life--something secret and personal, or something
seen in public? Are impure, evil thoughts infiltrating your mind and overpowering
your attempts for purity and holiness? Are you dominated by the desire for
position and prosperity to the point where spirituality has become a small
priority? My friend, it's time to back off from your struggle against whatever or
whomever you have been battling against and confront the true enemy. In order to
win a war, you have to isolate and identify the enemy. Satan, in his brilliance,
has managed to fool us into believing that he is far removed from the trials and
tragedy in our daily lives. He has got us blaming God and fighting each other.
Wow! He couldn't have a better platform to operate from. Perfect! Scrupulous!
Demonic!

The question I want to ask you and repeat to myself is, "Are you and I going to
let him continue with this cunning conspiracy that either God or our fellow
comrades are responsible for our suffering? We cannot. If we do, we have lost any
chance of resisting his assaults and winning the war against him. We have to
constantly be aware that those who we think are our enemies are NOT! He is the
enemy working through communities and circumstances to destroy us. Why do you
think Jesus was so repetitive and emphatic about our enemies? Why did Jesus gasp
in the agony of the most extreme suffering a human could endure, "Father forgive
them for they know not what they do?" Why? Jesus knew who the true enemy was. He
knew that these poor children of God were pawns in Satan's control, performing the
very tasks that he wanted them to perform. With this in mind, read the passages
below that point us to a totally new approach to our enemies:

Matthew 5:43-45
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I
tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be
sons of your Father in heaven. He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good,
and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."
You see, we need to pray for those who abuse and harm us because they too are
God's children--only they have been overpowered by Satan and hence their hostility
and hatred toward us. Once again, instead of fighting them, we need to fight Satan
and his evil forces who are controlling this child of God--our apparent enemy. Let
me ask you this question. If a massive space ship landed in Afghanistan, and
twenty feet tall, armor-clad, alien soldiers disembarked and started vaporizing
United States, British, Taliban and Al Quaeda soldiers . . . would they continue
warring against each other? They would be foolish if they did. No! They would need
to unify their strengths against these inhuman, powerful, robot-like, aliens. As a
matter of fact, with an alien invasion as forceful and powerful as this, the whole
world would need to unite to stand up against this threat. Palestinians should
unite with Israelis, Muslims should unite with Christians, Arabs should unite with
the Jews, Black Africans should unite with White Africans--all united against this
common, destructive force that is annihilating the inhabitants of our planet.
Well, my friend, this is exactly was is taking place. Yes, supernatural aliens
have invaded our planet and are bent on the total annihilation and/or infiltration
of mankind--supernatural aliens with thousands of years experience in defeating
mankind and plotting their ruin. What are we doing to combat this? How will we
survive this titanic onslaught?

(The Scriptures provide the weapons we need to fight our true enemy---weapons more
powerful than man-made weapons)

Conquering the Real Enemy

Divinely inspired authors of the scriptures give us the war plan for conquering
the unseen enemy behind all the disguised onslaughts against us. Just after Paul
tells us that our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of
this dark world, he tells us to "put on the full armor of God, so that when the
day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground." Note what the full armor
of God is:

Ephesians 6:-17
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the
breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the
readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to this, take up the
shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil
one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word
of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayer and
requests.
The belt of truth = The word of God
The breastplate of righteousness = Righteousness gained by believing God's
promises, (Romans 4:18-22)

Feet fitted with the gospel of peace = The word of God

The shield of faith = "Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is
heard through the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17)

The helmet of salvation = "God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work
of the Spirit and through belief in the truth." (2 Thessalonians 2:13).

The sword of the spirit = The word of God

Since ancient times, Satan has been keeping man from partaking of the word of God.
He knows that within those holy pages there is a power that neutralizes his
efforts to deceive and destroy mankind. Satan distracts man with activities and
responsibilities that keep him busy through every moment of every day. He doesn't
care if people are busy with good things, like church work, humanitarian
operations, or family commitments--anything to keep people from isolating
themselves to focus on and ingest the word of God. Notice what happens when we
neglect putting time alone with God first in our lives:

The Desire of Ages, Ellen White, p. 324

It is not necessary for us deliberately to choose the service of the kingdom of
darkness in order to come under its dominion. We have only to neglect to ally
ourselves with the kingdom of light. If we do not co-operate with the heavenly
agencies, Satan will take possession of the heart, and will make it his abiding
place. The only defense against evil is the indwelling of Christ in the heart
through faith in His righteousness. Unless we become vitally connected with God,
we can never resist the unhallowed effects of self-love, self-indulgence, and
temptation to sin. We may leave off many bad habits, for the time we may part
company with Satan; but without a vital connection with God, through the surrender
of ourselves to Him moment by moment, we shall be overcome. Without a personal
acquaintance with Christ, and a continual communion, we are at the mercy of the
enemy, and shall do his bidding in the end.

(The Holy Scriptures is "The Word of God," and this is the same word by which God
spoke the worlds into existence---when this word is part of our lives, Satan is
powerless to destroy us)

As man reads the very words of God, the Holy Spirit fuses them into his mind. This
process turns the focus of man toward the deeper spiritual things and immunizes
him to the temporal, earthly things. The Spirit elevates man to a higher more
noble dimension that brings a rich and rewarding state of mind we call peace. Man
is drawn more and more toward the economy that God controls, and is repulsed more
and more by the way Satan orchestrates his economy. Man gains a clearer vision of
the wonderful, kind and loving God who created the universe in an environment of
service and self-sacrifice--simultaneously discovering the greedy, lying, and
destructive demon who disrupted the newly created paradise into a domain of
selfishness, villainy and death. The word of God facilitates the miracle of an
affinity toward God and a repulsion toward evil. Just as darkness cannot exist in
light, so evil cannot stand in the presence of God. Note the quotes from one of
the most inspirational books on the life of Christ:
The Desire of Ages, Ellen White, p. 123
God reaches for the hand of faith in us to direct it to lay fast hold upon the
divinity of Christ, that we may attain to perfection of character. And how this is
accomplished, Christ has shown us. By what means did He overcome in the conflict
with Satan? By the word of God. Only by the word could He resist temptation. "It
is written," He said. And unto us are given "exceeding great and precious
promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped
the corruption that is in the world through lust." 2 Peter 1:4. Every promise in
God's word is ours. "By every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God" we are
to live. When assailed by temptation, look not to circumstances or to the weakness
of self, but to the power of the word. All its strength is yours. "Thy word," says
the psalmist, "have I hid mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee." "By the
word of Thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer." Ps 119:11; 17:4.

The Desire of Ages, Ellen White, p. 258

In the days of Christ the leaders of Israel were powerless to resist the work of
Satan. They were neglecting the only means by which they could have withstood evil
spirits. It was by the word of God that Christ overcame the wicked one . . . Those
who turn from the plain teaching of Scripture and the convincing power of God's
Holy Spirit are inviting the control of demons . . . The defenses of the soul are
broken down. He has no barrier against sin. When once the restraints of God's word
and His Spirit are rejected, no mans knows to what depths of degradation he may
sink. Secret sin or master passion may hold him a captive as helpless as was the
demoniac of Capernaum. Yet his condition was not hopeless. The means by which we
can overcome the wicked one is that by which Christ overcame,--the power of the
word.
Everyone who daily studies the word of God will receive counsel and comfort, no
matter what crisis they are going through. The Holy Spirit will fill each hurting
heart with a tangible divine presence--the evidences will be indisputable. He will
instill the realization that Satan is the instigator of all the suffering, and
were it not for God, the crisis would be infinitely more severe. A grateful
closeness will be felt with God for keeping His protective Hand in the midst of
the crisis. Instead of a sorrowful, negative, limited, human mind set, the word of
God creates a joyful, positive, open-ended, divine mind set, bringing a new
platform to launch varied solutions--solutions incorporating the way a Infinitely
Wise God works--not bound by time, space, beginning or end, but merely speaks His
words . . . and it is so . . . and it is good.

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