By Manuel M. Melgoza (January 8, 2026)

Throughout mankind’s existence on earth, our tendency has been to persist in living our lives upon our own human terms, rather than God’s. We do this even to the point of rejecting any belief that God, and God’s Word as preserved in Scripture, exists. Scripture is clear, however, that we can only enter into, and abide in, God’s Heavenly Domain by repudiating our “worldly” terms and adopting His heavenly terms as our own.

Despite this clear message, we can examine history and discover multitudes of “questions” that we have devised to rationalize our unbelief, and then resume living without the guilt of admitting our disobedience. The more “intelligent” we are, the more elaborate our attempts to conceal the true motivation. We come up with more ways to dismiss Scripture as mythology or wishful thinking. Seemingly, the more intelligent we are, the more intellect becomes an obstacle to trusting faith. When one boils down all these contrived excuses, however, they come down to one root cause.

“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. . . . anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.” John 3:19-20, 36

Is refusing to affirm and act upon God’s terms, while clinging to our own, a big deal? Consider what happened to the devil, Satan, and why he is destined to suffer eternal damnation. How is our stubborn insistence on doing things our way, instead of God’s, much different than Satan’s insistence on his own terms?

“You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you:  carnelian, chrysolite and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings. By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries. So I made a fire come out from you, and it consumed you, and I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching. All the nations who knew you are appalled at you; you have come to a horrible end and will be no more.’” Ezekiel 28:12-17

Many understand these verses (See also Isaiah 14:12-15) to provide insight into the nature of Satan’s transgressions, showing a once-exalted being whose conceit and pride initiated his fall. Hasn’t similar rejection of God’s ways been mankind’s greatest error? Which fate would you choose?