Q:
What do you think of when you hear the word Satan? You don't imagine that Satan is a real person in a red suit and a forked tail, or something like that, do you? I think Satan is just a symbol for evil.
A:
It’s often been said that one of the devil’s greatest tricks is to convince people that he doesn’t really exist—and it’s true.
But Satan really does exist—just as surely as God exists. And he isn’t just a vague, impersonal force; he is a real person—that is, he has a real personality. Just as you and I can think and make decisions and act, so Satan can think and make decisions and act. The difference is that everything he does is evil—without exception—because he is totally opposed to God.
But don’t think of him as just an evil person in a red suit and a forked tail; he is much, much greater than that. Satan is a powerful, spiritual being whose goal is to turn us away from God. He isn’t equal with God—but in ways that are largely hidden from us, he is engaged in a constant cosmic battle against God. Don’t take Satan lightly—for he is your enemy! The Bible says, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against… the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).
The most important fact you need to know about Satan, however, is that he is a defeated foe! By His death and resurrection Jesus Christ overcame all the powers of death and evil, and some day His victory will be complete. On whose side are you? Don’t turn your back on what Christ has done for you, but by faith put your life into His hands today.