Chapter 8: The Devil and Conditional Faith

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house; and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, when the Sabeans raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” (Job 1:6-16)

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. (Job 1:6)

Some commentaries assert that the word “sons” in this verse is referring to angels. However, most of the “sons of God” in the Old Testament are referring to God’s chosen people instead of angels. Satan standing among them means that he worked in the midst of God’s people as much as he wanted.

After reading this verse, some people also mistakenly believe that the sons of God met together with God face to face in a certain location. In reality, we are all standing before God. Even if we are God’s children, Satan is still lingering near us for the right opportunity to tempt us. When God asked him where he had been, Satan said that he had roamed the earth. Without taking a rest, Satan roams the world to find opportunities to plunder, especially near where the sons of God stand before Him. In other words, Satan penetrates into the assembly of God’s people and attacks them with different temptations.

It is a grave error to think that Satan cannot work within a church. In fact, Satan can operate during worship! Some demons admit that they went into worshippers while they were praising, praying, or listening to sermons. Satan can even bombard a spiritual place of grace where children are standing before God and cause much temptation and confusion.

A person named Job was among the sons of God standing before Him.

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” (Job 1:8)

So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. (Job 1:9-10)

Satan asserted that Job only feared God because the conditions were right, but if God brought failure to Job and his works, then Job would no longer fear Him. However, God was confident that Job loved Him not because of some conditions. God did not relinquish Job to Satan because He was deceived by Satan’s cunning words. God did not have a contest or an argument with Satan either. God knew that Job’s faith was unconditional. God allowed Satan to strike Job so that Satan would fall into his own trap since He knew that Satan’s accusations are unwarranted.

When he was given the permission, Satan destroyed Job’s possessions in the blink of an eye.

Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house; and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, when the Sabeans raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” (Job 1:13-19)

All of Job’s possessions, from his children to livestock, were completely destroyed in one day. If Job had worshiped and feared God just because He protected his possessions, Job would have blamed God by saying, “God, how could You do this to me? What have I done to deserve this?”

If Job did complain, then Satan would have come forward and said, “God, didn’t I tell You this was going to happen? Was I not right? Didn’t I say that Job’s faith was not pure? He only feared You because You protected his possessions. Was I lying? No, I was telling the truth! I proved that his faith was conditional.”

However, the reality was Job never blamed God nor did he curse Him. Rather he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21)

Satan was completely caught off guard by Job’s unconditional faith. When Job confessed his faith, God responded to Satan, “Satan, you brought false accusations before Me. You said that Job would blame Me if he loses all possessions, but Job is still honoring Me even after he has lost everything, even his children. What is your response? Aren’t your words anything but lies?”

To this, Satan replied, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. 5But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” (Job 2:4-5)

Then, God allowed Satan to strike Job again and said, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.” (Job 2:6)

God allowed Satan to strike Job for the same reason as before. God allowed Satan to strike Job not because he had failed in his faith, but because God knew that Job’s faith was unconditional. God wanted to expose that Satan’s accusations are all lies and at the same time prove Job’s faith to be pure. So Satan struck Job’s flesh.

So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes. (Job 2:7-8)

Job’s condition was so repulsive that even his wife turned her back against him. She was frustrated since her husband was shouting out, “Hallelujah, hallelujah!” among the rubbles where their house used to be, scratching his boils with the potsherd. All of his inheritance and children disappeared. Instead of comforting her husband, she added more fuel to the flame. “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9) However, Job still did not sin against God. But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this, Job did not sin with his lips (Job 2:10).

Satan was the one that really wanted to see Job curse God and throw away his faith. Satan was hoping that Job would resent God and say, “It’s useless to fear God. They said that if I worshiped God, I would get so blessed that I wouldn’t be able to store it all. But look at me now.” If Job had done this, then Satan would have been proudly triumphant and say, “What did I say, God? Didn’t I tell you that Job would fail?”

Since Job was so faithful, Satan was more aggravated and frustrated. But Satan did not give up on Job. “God, there still is a reason why Job is not blaming You.” “What more reason could there be? His possessions are taken away, his children are all dead, his wife abandoned him, and his body is covered in boils. What more could be done?” “He still has his life. He still trusts You because You wouldn’t let me touch his life.” Satan never stops until he takes away man’s life. But for Job, he kept his faith and overcame. “Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hands? Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him” (Job 13:14-15).

Not fearing death itself, Job confessed that he would keep his faith before God. No matter how tormenting his wounds were, he would never take his own life. Until the day that God takes his life, he would never abandon his faith before God. With this confession from Job, Satan’s accusations were proven to be lies. “See Satan? You said that Job’s faith was conditional. You took away all the conditions from him, but he still loves Me. You have wrongfully accused My servant, Job. You caused him much harm and distressed Me. You shall now fall to the judgment that you used against Job!”

Satan fell into the same trap that he laid to falsely accuse Job before God. In the same way, the pure faith of saints brings much disappointment to Satan. He roams the face of the earth seeking those who have conditional faith. Since the unbelievers are going to join him in eternal perdition anyway, Satan leaves them alone. However, Satan has vehement jealousy against the saints who have resolute faith; he seeks opportunities to tempt them.

Here is another scenario: “Satan, have you noticed Deacon Kim in Singil-dong (a district in Seoul)? Doesn’t he serve and worship Me with a sincere faith?” “No God, don’t be deceived. Would he go to worship, give tithes, and dedicate his precious time for church without any reason?” “What is that reason?” “You have blessed his business. He enjoys being so dedicated to the church because he is prosperous. If You take away his business, he will surely curse You. He will complain and regret his dedication to you.” “No. Deacon Kim worships Me without any conditions. His faith is genuine.” “No God, You’re being fooled by him.” “Then let’s see. I will give him into your hands, so do whatever you want.” So Satan starts to destroy Deacon Kim’s business. Suddenly, with his shoulders drooping, words such as, “It was useless to believe in God,” come out of Deacon Kim’s mouth. Of course the one who revel in this is Satan. “Look God. Wasn’t I correct about him?” “What’s happening Kim? Don’t you know that no matter how much money you have, it doesn’t take you to Heaven? Are you telling me that you loved Me only because of money? Kim, say it isn’t so. Prove that your faith is pure and genuine regardless of money.”

Then, Deacon Kim’s wife steps in and aggravates the situation. “The pastor’s words are useless. He said that if we served God, then we would be blessed. But look at us now!” “Excellent!” the Devil exclaims. “Keep going! Continue to fall away from God. The final step is to leave the church.” Satan is having a party by now.

But the pastor steps in, prays, and encourages Deacon Kim. “Deacon, you have to continue in your faith. You must come to church.” “Pastor, I just want to die. My business has failed, my kids are in the hospital, my wife wants a divorce, and the creditors keep calling me. I don’t have the strength to come to church anymore.” Satan shouts more in triumph. “Listen God. Wasn’t I correct in my assessment? Kim is not going to church anymore. I told You that his faith was conditional. I was right!” “Hold on, Satan. It’s not over yet. For now, he stumbled a little, but wait a little longer. He will not fail.”

God continues and encourages the deacon, “Deacon Kim! Even if you gain the whole world, it won’t get you into heaven! You sweat and work hard for money, but it won’t repay in the same way. Money will not sacrifice anything for you. Don’t trust your money. Don’t serve two masters in your life. Money is not your lord. You must overcome!”

Then suddenly, Deacon Kim changes his mind. “You know what. Jesus didn’t die on the cross so that I can be a millionaire. He died so that my soul can be saved. I must wake up and go to church!” Now Satan is worried. “Man! What is going on? Kim, why are you going back to church?” “You see, Satan? Do you see how genuine Deacon Kim is? Even though his wife wants a divorce, his kids are in the hospital, and his business failed, he still loves Me. Look at him! Look!” “God, that is not true. Strike him dead and see if he will still love You. As soon as You strike him down, he will blame You.”

Then suddenly, Deacon Kim says this, “God, I learned about Job’s faith through the Bible. Since I came from my mother’s womb naked, I shall return in the same way. It is God who gives and God who takes away. Even if You were to kill me now, I will still love You the same.” “Did you hear that Satan? Did you hear what Deacon Kim just said? He said that he would still love Me even if I take away his life.” Satan eventually loses and is condemned for the wrongful accusation that he brought to God.

In the same way, conditional faith gives victory to Satan, but genuine faith condemns him. Satan does not meddle with people who do not have any zeal before God. He can cause the businesses of diligent Christians to come to sudden ruin and bring them unexpected hardships. During the early years of my spiritual life, I ran a chicken farm and it was very successful. I made much money while I still maintained a fervent spiritual life.

“Satan, have you seen the faith of Ki Dong Kim? Is there anyone more genuine than him?” Then, Satan brings his accusations before God. “God, that’s not true. He works hard for the church because his chicken farm is doing so well and he is making so much money. It will all be over when You take away his chicken farm. Just take the favorable conditions away and he will surely betray You immediately.” “Ok. I am putting his business into your hands.”

The success of my chicken farm came to a sudden halt on the morning of December 23rd. When I went out to the farm that morning, all of the chickens were dead on the floor. The chickens were laying healthy eggs just a day ago. The same people who had envied the success of my farm were looking at me with pity and their attention was embarrassing me. I just wanted to hide somewhere. However, I acted as if nothing happened the next day and coordinated the Christmas performances at my church as the secretary of the young adult’s group. I’m pretty sure that Satan was very disappointed. When God saw my unconditional faith towards Him, I believe that He made up His mind to make me a great revivalist, and even the overseer of a great church.

When the pastor gives the benediction, he does not say, “May the shops be filled with customers, may the children receive the best grades, and may the husbands get promoted….” The pastor’s benediction only emphasizes the foundation for a genuine faith. The prayer is for the most urgent needs of the saints. “May the grace of Jesus Christ, the love God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be upon you.”

Why do believers say, “Amen” to the benediction and go home only to be indecisive? They say, “There’s no use going to church. I thought church might bring me fortunes. That store over there is doing so well even though they perform so many shamanistic rituals. They don’t believe in Jesus and yet they are doing so well. Maybe I should call a medium too!” This brings much disappointment to God.

Conditional faith becomes a good meal for the Devil to enjoy. We must always remember that the Devil stands in the midst of God’s children. The Devil roams the face of the earth seeking his prey and when he finds zealous saints, he destroys their environments trying to show that their faiths are conditional. Conditional faith brings joy to the Devil but disappointment to God.

Religious faiths or mystical faiths are variations of conditional faith. People who just attend the nearest church simply because they need religion in their lives are just religious. People who attend the church because they want to improve their chances of success in life are nothing but mystics. These believers invite the pastor to pray for their businesses to succeed just as how secular people perform Buddhist or Shamanistic rituals. “Pastor, I have a neighbor who says that he will come to church if you go to his store and hold a service.” The desire to worship even without true faith is a proof that mysticism has gripped one’s heart. If the business is actually successful after the pastor’s visit, then the word of this success spreads quickly throughout the neighborhood. “When that pastor came and prayed for my store, it became so successful! Why don’t you ask him to come and pray for your store too? It should work for you also.” Some people treat worship service like a Buddhist ritual or Shamanistic ceremonies that bring fortunes. “The worship service was quiet, inexpensive, and quick. I liked it!” People with a mystical faith immediately forget about God once their problems are solved. When their problems are solved, they stop coming to church. “I didn’t see you last Sunday. Where were you?” “I had to attend to so many customers. I was really busy.” The same is true when the business is not doing well. “What did Jesus ever do for me? It’s useless to go to church!”

Conditional faith is exactly what Satan wants to see. Job 2:3 explains the faith God desires. Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.”

The faith that God could proudly boast to Satan is one that is genuine, upright, fearing God, and turned away from evil. The one who possesses this unconditional faith can surpass all of the Devil’s schemes.