Influence is the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself. It is the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of others.

There are many people who disagree with this second concept, or at least the part which states that influence is a power.The understanding thus given is that threat or force is used to accomplish the goal. This is immensely contrary to the mere ability to “have an effect” on something through positive affirmation and encouragement.

“Among the many lessons taught by Solomon’s life, none is more strongly emphasized than the power of influence for good or for ill. However contracted may be our sphere, we still exert an influence for weal or woe. Beyond our knowledge or control, it tells upon others in blessing or cursing. It may be heavy with the gloom of discontent and selfishness, or poisonous with the deadly taint of some cherished sin; or it may be charged with the life-giving power of faith, courage, and hope, and sweet with the fragrance of love. But potent for good or for ill it will surely be.”1

“Those who today occupy positions of trust should seek to learn the lesson taught by Solomon’s prayer. The higher the position a man occupies, the greater the responsibility that he has to bear, the wider will be the influence that he exerts and the greater his need of dependence on God.”2

In order to understand more about the power of influence, we need to go all the way back to the creation and investigate how this power was misused. In the Bible, we see that God said to Lucifer, “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee” (Ezekiel 28:15).

“It was a being of wonderful power and glory that had set himself against God. Of Lucifer the Lord says, ‘Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.’ Ezekiel 28:12. Lucifer had been the covering cherub. He had stood in the light of God’s presence. He had been the highest of all created beings, and had been foremost in revealing God’s purposes to the universe.”3

Lucifer was one of God’s most amazing creations, and he held much power, authority, and influence in heaven. His influence among the angelic society was proportionate to his intelligence, position and popularity. God offered all these things to Lucifer freely, providing him with the opportunity to use it all to give glory and honor to his Creator. However, the power and the talents granted him were abused and misused in the attempt to bring glory to himself.

“After he had sinned, his power to deceive was the more deceptive, and the unveiling of his character was the more difficult, because of the exalted position he had held with the Father.”4

“All the powers of his master mind were now bent to the work of deception, to secure the sympathy of the angels that had been under his command.”5

“This great change of position had not increased his love for God, nor for His wise and just law. When Satan became fully convinced that there was no possibility of his being re-instated in the favor of God, he manifested his malice with increased hatred and fiery vehemence.”6

“Satan’s position in heaven had been next to the Son of God. He was first among the angels. His power had been debasing, but God could not reveal it in its true light and carry all heaven in harmony with Him in removing him with his evil influences. His power was increasing, but the evil was yet unrecognized. It was a deadly power to the universe, but for the security of the worlds and the government of heaven, it was necessary that it should develop and be revealed in its true light.”7

The question of many skeptical Christians is “Why did God allow Lucifer to create such a revolution? Didn’t He have the power to destroy him, and thus stop him from defiling heaven’s perfection?” It seems bizarre that God, who knows the beginning from the end, would allow such an evil to befall all of heaven, knowing that the consequences could not be good. So, why did He do this?

In His infinite wisdom, God fully knew that “the influence of the deceiver would not have been fully destroyed, nor would the spirit of rebellion have been utterly eradicated. Evil must be permitted to come to maturity. For the good of the entire universe through ceaseless ages, Satan must more fully develop his principles, that his charges against the divine government might be seen in their true light by all created beings, that the justice and mercy of God and the immutability of His law might forever be placed beyond all question.”8

In contrast to the skeptical question, this paragraph states that it was for the good of the universe that Satan’s evil influence was tolerated. Without the example of his failure, there would be others who would question God’s authority and would attempt to challenge His great power. Thus, God’s tolerance was an act of mercy rather than an act of cruelty.

“Satan stood in amazement at his new condition. His happiness was gone. He looked upon the angels who, with him, were once so happy, but who had been expelled from Heaven with him. Before their fall, not a shade of discontent had marred their perfect bliss. Now all seemed changed. Countenances which had reflected the image of their Maker were gloomy and despairing. Strife, discord, and bitter recrimination, were among them. Previous to their rebellion these things had been unknown in Heaven. Satan now beholds the terrible results of his rebellion. He shuddered, and feared to face the future, and to contemplate the end of these things.”9

“[Satan] would seek to destroy the happiness of Adam and Eve. He would endeavor to incite them to rebellion, knowing that this would cause grief in Heaven.

“His followers were seeking him; and he aroused himself and, assuming a look of defiance, informed them of his plans to wrest from God the noble Adam and his companion Eve. If he could, in any way, beguile them to disobedience, God would make some provision whereby they might be pardoned, and then himself and all the fallen angels would be in a fair way to share with them of God’s mercy. If this should fail, they could unite with Adam and Eve; for when once they should transgress the law of God, they would be subjects of God’s wrath, like themselves. Their transgression would place them also, in a state of rebellion; and they could unite with Adam and Eve, take possession of Eden, and hold it as their home. And if they could gain access to the tree of life in the midst of the garden, their strength would, they thought, be equal to that of the holy angels, and even God himself could not expel them.”10

“Satan held a consultation with his evil angels. They did not all readily unite to engage in this hazardous and terrible work. He told them that he could not intrust the work to any one of them; for he thought that he alone had wisdom sufficient to carry forward so important an enterprise. He wished them to consider the matter while he should leave them and seek retirement, to mature his plans. He sought to impress upon them that this was their last and only hope. If they failed here, all prospect of regaining and controlling Heaven, or any other part of God’s creation, was hopeless.”11

Most of us are familiar with the fall of humanity recorded in Genesis 3:1–7. But how many of us have ever considered that this account could uncover the true nature of today’s conspiracy-saturated world?

Satan, in the guise of the serpent, laid out the basic elements of what every conspiracy needs in order to have a strong impact on humans. However, he did not come to Adam and Eve as he was, in fear that they would recognize him and be reminded of his fall. “The angels . . . gave them the sad history of Satan’s rebellion and fall. . . . They told them that Satan purposed to do them harm, and it was necessary for them to be guarded, for they might come in contact with the fallen foe; but he could not harm them while they yielded obedience to God’s command; for, if necessary, every angel from Heaven would come to their help rather than that he should in any way do them harm. But if they disobeyed the command of God, then Satan would have power to ever annoy, perplex, and trouble them.”12

An open discussion initiated by Satan would make the human couple aware of his motives, and would cause them to withdraw from him, thereby destroying his plan. “Satan went alone to mature plans that would most surely secure the fall of Adam and Eve. He had fears that his purposes might be defeated. And again, even if he should be successful in leading Adam and Eve to disobey the commandment of God, and thus become transgressors of his law, and no good come to himself, his own case would not be improved; his guilt would only be increased.”13

Satan cleverly devised another plan, in which he came in the form of a serpent to Adam and Eve, and delivered his message through this medium.

First, Satan questioned Eve regarding the legitimacy of the truth that she and her husband knew from God.

“[Satan] addressed [Eve] as though he was able to divine her thoughts: ‘Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?’ Thus, with soft and pleasant words, and with musical voice, he addressed the wondering Eve. She was startled to hear a serpent speak.”14 By twisting her perception of the truth, Satan aimed to lure her into a position in which he could better influence her mind. If he managed to make her step on this ground, then he would have full control of her mind and could entice her into sin.

In his attempt to entrap Eve, he seduced her by appealing to her passions and desires to do exactly the opposite of what she knew she should do.

“Eve was surprised and startled as she thus seemed to hear the echo of her thoughts.”15

“He extolled her beauty and exceeding loveliness, which was not displeasing to Eve. But she was amazed, for she knew that to the serpent God had not given the power of speech.

“Eve’s curiosity was aroused. Instead of fleeing from the spot, she listened to hear a serpent talk. It did not occur to her mind that it might be that fallen foe, using the serpent as a medium.”16

Nowadays almost every deceptive scheme appeals to human passions and desires, causing people to lose sight of what they should do, and instead become centered on what they wantcontrolling. Oftentimes however, what they begin to believe they want is actually a result of the powerful influence of the media, which is indirectly what they want. The Bible says, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:14, 15).

Thirdly, Satan told Adam and Eve a half-truth mixed with a lie. “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4, 5) [Emphasis added.]

“By partaking of this tree, he declared, they would attain to a more exalted sphere of existence and enter a broader field of knowledge. He himself had eaten of the forbidden fruit, and as a result had acquired the power of speech. And he insinuated that the Lord jealously desired to withhold it from them, lest they should be exalted to equality with Himself. It was because of its wonderful properties, imparting wisdom and power, that He had prohibited them from tasting or even touching it. The tempter intimated that the divine warning was not to be actually fulfilled; it was designed merely to intimidate them. How could it be possible for them to die? Had they not eaten of the tree of life? God had been seeking to prevent them from reaching a nobler development and finding greater happiness.”17

As mentioned in Revelation 20:10, the devil is the great deceiver of God’s people today, and has been through all the ages. Let us remember that Satan also tempted the Lord Jesus, the source of infinite wisdom. He came to Him as an angel, and he will come in the same manner to tempt men again. In 2 Corinthians 11:14, we read, “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”

“Satan’s work has been the same since the days of Adam to the present, and he has pursued it with great success, tempting men to distrust God’s love and to doubt His wisdom. And in the great closing work of the rebellion the powers of evil will unite in a desperate struggle to work out their deceptive plans to lead souls to ruin.”18

The enemy’s aim is to distort the truth given to us by a loving God, and replace it with lies about ourselves, and about God’s care for us. He is, after all, the father of lies “because there is no truth in him” (John 8:44). If he manages to separate us from our Father, he is able to take full control of our mind and influence our every action. Only by immersing ourselves in God’s word with constant prayer and a powerful network of believers can we withstand Satan’s influence, and overcome the conspiracies with which he is scheming to target God’s people today.