Envy's Evil Lust for Glory

Why is our enemy our enemy and what exactly is he after – who started this fight anyway? Our first introduction to Satan is the venom breath of a possessed, talking snake that seduces Mankind. But later in the narrative of Scripture, his origin is revealed to us as a created, high ranking archangel. There are only three named archangels in Scripture - Michael, who specifically is the arch angel over Israel, Gabriel and Lucifer. We read of why Lucifer fell in Isaiah 14:12-15,

How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.” Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.

Satan’s I wills challenged an already finished plan and openly declared his manifesto to hijack that which did not belong to him! One would think that being created to serve as one of God’s top three angelic authorities in the Universe would be a big deal and receive such an appointment with gratitude, rather than an entitlement to more. In fact, it was a big deal, just like all of God’s creative order is purposefully significant! But Lucifer, a created being, desired the worship which belongs only to the Creator! Lucifer became obsessed with his envy of God.

Envy begins with an attraction to another person’s character, possessions or success. This first attraction is neutral, neither good or bad – it can serve as motivation and inspiration or it can become contemptuous and resentful. The latter is when envy takes on the ugly of evil. 

Those with envy in their heart are obsessed with comparisons – interpreting themselves either above or beneath something or someone else. However, the subtle law of envy is that you self-impose inferiority to that which you envy! Envy in our hearts will campaign endlessly through destructive behaviors of image management. Envy is synonymous with pride, backbiting, coveting, grudges, hatred, ill will, lust, malice, prejudice, resentments, rivalry, false accusation, spite - all under the auspice of justified entitlement to hijack that which you desire, but does not belong to you. Guard your heart, beloved, because envy is the very heart of Satan!

For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. James 3:16

In contrast, our value is measured by the payment price for our restored identity, which is the SUMPREMACY OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS! Friend, our value is equated with His Blood – our value will never be superior or inferior to His Blood! What an extraordinary truth! It is an act of unbelief to compare ourselves with one another. We are unique and uniquely His, adorned with His value living lives of purposeful significance!

Lucifer’s name means light bearer or the shining one – it’s no wonder he masquerades in his now fallen state as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14)! Lucifer led a rebellion against God, a bad choice on his part, spawned by a desire to hijack what he was attracted to, but did not belong to him. His identity was designed to bear light, or even the deeper meaning of his name, the shining glory of God’s favor. So rather than being a steward of the shining glory of God’s favor that he was appointed to bear, he desired the glory for himself. Has it ever occurred to you that angels have desires and choices?

Interestingly enough, we humans are kindred in our design and purposed identity to bear God’s Light – to both bring glory to God and bear the shining favor of God in the earth. However, we are different. What is it about our design and appointment that is so prized throughout the Universe, that even the angels desire to look into it the marvels of what Jesus vested within us (1 Pet 1:11-13)? 

What makes us different from the angels as created beings and for that matter, different from the animals – what is it about us, that Satan desires? We beloved, are created for the purpose to be and look like God, He imprinted His image in us! Possibly because of familiarity with this truth or possibly because we don’t really understand it’s significance, we may regard His imprint lightly, but in the spiritual domain it is the factory default for power and authority!

Do you think that Lucifer knew that once he rebelled from the sheer emanating beauty of God, that he would turn out so ugly? Be assured dear one, our fallen nature will have robust fantasies of self-acclaiming fame with glorious outcomes -- but once the illusions of robust egos meet the shining beauty of God’s Presence, disobedience always manifests as ugly!