Why did God not expel the devil from the world?

Some might ask, if the devil cannot defeat us through strength, but only through cunning and deceit, would it not have been better for him to have been removed and dealt with far from our world? Job was able to defeat the power of the devil, but Adam was defeated and cast out. If the devil himself had been cast out first, wouldn’t Adam have avoided being deceived and cast out?

St. John Chrysostom answers this question in a number of ways:

First: He says that those who overcome the devil deserve greater honor by far than those who are defeated , even if those who are defeated are many, but those who are victorious few; for it is written, “one godly child is better than a thousand” (Sir. 16:3).

Second: Had the devil been banished from the world, the victorious would h ave no honor. Without the devil, the lazy and the wanton would fare no worse than those who are alert (other than suffering their laziness and wantonness itself). The devil’s success in his attempts against Adam, and Adam’s gullibility in believing his deception should not be understood as a victory for the devil arising from his power or nature, but as a defeat of the human arising from his laziness and negligence.

Third: Should we blame the beautiful creation just because some stumble because of it; despite it being a sign of God’s love, wisdom, and power? Should we also, then, cut off our body members if we think them to be a cause of our perdition, because we are not cautious? But this is not because of the nature of our body members, but because of our laxity. God granted us eyes to see His creation, for which we ought to glorify the Lord. But when we misuse them, they become the tools of adultery. He gave us a tongue so that we might be well instructed and praise the Creator. But if we do not tend our souls, it becomes the instrument of blasphemy. We received hands to be lifted up in prayer. But when we are not vigilant, we find them working greed and avarice. And He granted us feet to walk in goodness. But through our neglect, they lead us to evil works.

Fourth: Even the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. Assuredly, there is nothing that leads us to salvation more than the cross. Yet, “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18). And he also says, “We preach Christ crucified; to the Jews: a stumbling block and to the Greeks: foolishness ” (1 Cor. 1:23).

Fifth: For many, Christ is a stumbling block. The coming of the Blessed One Himself came to be the cause of judgment for many: “Jesus said: ‘For judgment I have come into this world that those who do not see may see, and those who see may be made blind’” (John 9:39). The weak — those who persist in committing sin — are harmed by everything; while the strong benefit from everything.

Sixth: God sets limits upon the devil that he cannot overstep, to protect us from being swallowed up by him when we are unprepared. Therefore, we ought not fear the devil; even though he is a spirit, an incorporeal being. Given these limits, nothing could be weaker than he who comes in this manner, even if he is without a body; and nothing could be stronger than the one who is brave, even if he is mortal and in the flesh.

Seventh: Without absolving the devil of his guilt , I caution you against laziness. The devil’s strategy is to take the blame for our sins. By doing so, he can plunge us into all kinds of sin and shift the responsibility for these falls onto him. Thus, we fall into a false sense of powerlessness against sin. But in doing this, we only become more blameworthy and exclude ourselves from the possibility of forgiveness; for in blaming the devil we give ourselves an excuse not to repent.

Book 6

Christian Concepts and Everyday Life

1. Christian Virtues

2. The Virtue of Discernment and Illumination

3. The Virtue of Obedience

4. The Virtue of Chastity and Purity

5. Vices or Evils

6. Christian Faith and Human Culture

7. The Relationship between Church and State

8. Christian Faith and Military Service

9. Christian Faith and Social and Familial Relationships

10. Social Cohesion

11. Christian Faith and Social Class

12. Christian Faith and Liberty

13. Wealth and the Wealthy in the Christian Faith

14. Science and Faith