God created His angels with the freedom of choice. This meant that they could choose to obey God or reject Him. Sadly, one of God’s highly created beings made the choice to reject God. Sin originated with Lucifer who, next to Christ, had been the most honored of God and was the highest in power and glory among God’s holy angels. Lucifer, “son of the morning,” was first of the covering cherubs, perfect, holy and undefiled.
Lucifer stood in the presence of God and the glory enshrouding the eternal Creator rested upon him. The Bible tells us, “Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering. . . . Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee” (Ezekiel 28:12-15).
But little by little Lucifer came to harbor the desire for self-exaltation. The Scripture says, “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness.” Ezekiel 28:17. “Thou hast said in thine heart, . . . I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. . . . I will be like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:13, 14).
Though all his glory was from God, this once perfect angel came to regard it as belonging to himself. Not satisfied with his position, though honored above the all other angels, he coveted the glory due alone to the Creator. Instead of seeking to make God first in the affections and loyalty of all created beings, he tried to secure their service and loyalty to himself. He desired the glory that the Father had given His Son.
Lucifer’s character to serve himself instead of his Creator aroused a feeling of anxiety when observed by those who considered that the glory of God should be supreme. God Himself had established the order of heaven; and in departing from it, Lucifer, fell, dishonored his Maker, and brought ruin to himself and the angels that followed him.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
