The Bible tells us that God is loving, gentle, kind, and just. If so, how could God create Satan?

Firstly, we must note that God did not initially create ‘the devil,’ but He made the perfect, holy angel who later became the devil.

Ezekiel 28:15 (NKJV)

You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you.

What led to Satan’s dramatic transformation? Satan’s transformation was the result of his rebellion, not a consequence of a flaw in God’s creation. It was His pride, greed, arrogance, and desire to be worshipped, which led to his fall, originating from within himself.

Consider what could happen to a human being if he/she were extremely beautiful, intelligent, and highly influential in the world, both in business and politics.

Needless to say, such a person would become intensely proud of their accomplishments and even desire greater power, wealth, and prestige.

Satan was considered the most beautiful angel ever created and was even tasked with leading Heaven’s worship. However, his pride, greed, arrogance, and desire to be worshipped equally and greater than God led him to become the devil.

Why hasn’t God destroyed Satan yet?

Is God able to remove Satan at this time if He desires? Yes, and we know this because He will do so one day by throwing him into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). However, the real question is why didn’t He do this yesterday, and if He had, we wouldn’t have been tempted the way we are today.

So why does God not just take him out? If He has the power and right to do so, why doesn’t He? Although the Bible does not explicitly answer this question, there are snippets of Scripture that talk about God’s eternal will in permitting Satan to live. This is part of His sovereign plan, where He uses even evil for His ultimate purposes.

Pastor John Piper in one of his interviews answers this question:

“God has ordained for satan to live in this world but with a leash which God is holding on. God knows that when we walk in and out of temptations struggling with the physical as well as the moral effects it brings, then more of God’s glory will shine through rather than if He would have taken satan out yesterday.”

Our struggles with sin or suffering caused by satan provide an overwhelming evidence of God’s grace, patience, and mercy. While Satan himself is evil, God uses him to accomplish His good purposes. This is evident in how believers grow through trials and temptations, learning to trust deeply in God’s sovereignty and grace.

A great example of this can be seen in Paul’s life, where Satan tormented him, but ultimately it worked to Paul’s advantage and helped keep him from being exalted beyond measure, as recorded in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.

As we can see, God allows satan to exist in order for His glory, mercy, justice, grace, and wisdom to shine through more brightly.

While God will remove Satan at the appointed time, He has not left us empty until then.

As Christians, we have forgiveness through Jesus, God’s words, and the power of the Holy Spirit to live victoriously for God’s glory in the world. Eventually, yes, God will remove Satan from the world, but until then, Satan is allowed to surface as much as God allows.