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Do you believe that it is possible for you to represent satan? Do you think that you ever did? I am not sure how you answered the question, but I want to share some sobering news. Every human being born into this world, enters this world with a greater propensity to sin, and with less or no propensity towards righteousness. Yes, as hard as it may sound, it is true. We naturally are inclined to sin; we are naturally inclined to bear the character of satan i.e. we have an active “image-of-satan-gene” within us from birth which over powers the latent/the dormant “image-of-God-gene” and unless we have external help we will live and die with this active “image-of-satan-gene” driving the decisions within our lives.

To ensure that you do not think I am being crude or melodramatic with my statement, I want to share a few texts from the Bible that support my statement:

“Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”

Psalm 51:5

The above passage of scripture reflects the expression of King David, who understood the fallen state of man. We were born into this world of sin, and the environment (i.e. the iniquity) impacts and shapes us.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; ”

Romans 3:23

In the above verse of scripture, it is clear that every human being that has engaged in sinful activities, every human being has come short of God’s glory.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Jeremiah 17:9

The above text plainly states the general nature of humanity, which is “desperately wicked”.

“For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.”

Romans 6:20

This last verse of scripture quoted, reveals that being sinners, we naturally had no liking for righteousness. Though there are many more verses of scripture that can be quoted to further validate my earlier point, I will stop here because I believe the picture has been painted quite clear, which is, unless there is divine intervention into our lives, we will live unrighteous and sin-filled lives from birth to death, due to the active “image-of-satan-gene” within us, our natural propensity or desire to live lives that do not glorify God.

Now despite this reality, I see no reason for us to be gloomy or sad. Why? Because it is important to understand our nature, who we are inclined to be and, if better is desired how it can be attained. And there is better in Jesus Christ. There is change, there is life in Jesus Christ. John 3:16 & 17 states:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

Also, 2Co 5:17  states:

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Yes, in accepting Christ we “become new” we are rebooted, we are brought back to how we were actually created to be in the first place when man was initially created in the garden, meaning, through accepting Christ as our saviour, we are once again created in the image of God. Jesus deactivates our “image-of-satan-gene” and activates our “image-of-God-gene”. So, I end this devotion with the following scripture which represents words shared by the Apostle Paul, and he said:

“3  For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4  But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6  Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7  That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Titus 3:3-7