Robbing God Of Men

To us he can seem heroic at times;
His war with God thrills more than common fare;
Though we should be repelled by Satan's crimes,
We can be enthralled by treachery's dare!
But what we esteem as brave gallantry
Is naught but ingratitude run amuck,
Or sympathy for one made bow the knee.
Let's not confuse sophistry with true pluck;
Persistence in perversion is still vice!
He knew his hope to best God was forlorn;
His cabal is vain and hides cowardice,
Robbing God of men heaven should adorn!
He seeks another's honor and respect,
Since certain defeat's all he can expect!

In Book II of John Milton's Paradise Lost, Satan appears almost heroic in his soliloquy about the cataclysmic war he had started against God. He stood beside the Lake of Fire after he and his fallen angels had been cast there and figuratively shook his fist at heaven, strengthening his will to continue the unequal fight. In that scene he draws sympathy from the reader, due to human proclivity to sympathize with the underdog, or the power of Milton's poetry.

Satan counts on this human failing to attract us to his side and away from God. Each person that lives apart from God is one more victory for Satan, and since he can't win the war, he delights in robbing men away from heaven.

"Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8)

God is not the only being who can be in many places at once. Satan can do it, too. Peter gives an apt portrayal in the scripture above; he walks about all the earth, and is around us, seeking people, not to eat up, but to join his losing army, just to spite God. But Zechariah 3:1 tells us he is also in heaven, believe it or not, standing beside men on trial before God to accuse them of sin and unworthiness, acting as a prosecutor. He'll stand beside you some day and tell, or try to tell, God of all your secret sins; but, thank God, for standing beside you on the other side is Jesus Christ, and He will defend you to the Father!