I

The nature of all that Satan does corresponds to and fits with negative terms such as to impair, to disrupt, to destroy, to grievously harm, evil, maliciousness, and darkness, and so the occurrence of all that is unjust and evil is inextricably linked to the acts of Satan, and is inseparable from the hideous essence of Satan. Regardless of how "immensely powerful" Satan is, how audacious and ambitious it is, how great its ability to inflict damage is, how wide-ranging its capabilities for corrupting and luring man are, how clever the tricks and schemes with which it intimidates man are, or how varied the forms of its existence are, it has never been able to create a single living thing.

II

Satan has never been able to set down laws or rules for the existence of all things, or govern or hold sovereignty over any object, whether animate or inanimate. Within the cosmos and the firmament, there is not a single person or thing that was brought into being by it or that exists because of it; there is not a single person or thing that is under its sovereignty or governed by it. On the contrary, it not only has to exist under the dominion of God, but must also obey all of God's commands and orders. Without God's permission, Satan cannot easily touch even a drop of water or a grain of sand upon the land; without God's permission, Satan cannot even mess with the ants upon the land, let alone mankind, who was created by God.

III

In the eyes of God, Satan is inferior to the lilies on the mountain, to the birds flying in the air, to the fish in the sea, and to the maggots on the earth. Its role among all things is to serve all things, to serve mankind, and to serve God's work and His management plan. Regardless of how malicious its nature is, and how wicked its essence is, the only thing it can do is to compliantly serve its function: rendering service to God—serving well as a foil. Such is the substance and original position of Satan. Its essence has nothing to do with life, power, or authority; it is merely a plaything in God's hands, just a machine that God uses for service!

from The Word, Vol. 2. On Knowing God. God Himself, the Unique I