Did you know that when God created Adam and Eve he leased the earth to them? As the “Landlord,” He retained all ownership, but under the covenants of the lease, man was given the authority to manage and govern the planet. (Gen 1:27-28, Psalms 115:16, Psalms 24:1)
Satan understood the lease. He knew that if Adam and Eve gave up their authority willingly, then he could gain dominion of the earth. That is exactly what happened, and it gave him the authority to set up his kingdom of sin and death (John 5:19).
God was deeply grieved by this. But as much as He wanted to cancel the lease, He could not. He was bound by the covenant of His own Word. It would require the establishment of a New Covenant, a better Covenant; one that would be sealed by the blood of Messiah Jesus.
When Jesus died on the cross, all the sin of man was forgiven. When He went to hell, He took possession of the keys of death and hell and set the captives free. Through His sacrifice and resurrection the authority that Satan had stolen was once again returned to its rightful owner.
In Matthew 28:18, Jesus said this, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”Â
Satan no longer has any authority. All he can do is deceive us and then use our authority to accomplish his purposes. Unfortunately, many people have succumbed to his deceptions, and that is the reason we have evil and injustice on this earth.
As believers, we must learn to use our authority and cooperate with the wisdom, the knowledge and power of God that He works through us. That is our function until the term of the present earth lease is completed upon the return of the “Landlord,” Jesus.
To learn more, I encourage you to read my book, If God Is In Control, Then Why? It will help you understand your role and God’s role on this earth under the New Covenant.
PS – Please check out my latest television series, “Why Do Bad Things Happen to Me?” It deals with this very issue!