The Sunday Sermonette – Who Is King?

Ever heard of the Polish artist, Ludwik Stasiak? Neither had I until one of his paintings came up for auction on a European auction site I follow. The painting was a simple landscape that only sold for a few thousand euros. Curious about who the artist was, I googled him, and one of his most famous paintings popped up.

At first glance, it looked like just another strange old painting until I read the title: “Allegory of Satan, Lord of the World.” Painted by Mr. Stasiak around 1900, it portrays Satan hovering between Heaven and Earth. His throne symbolizes his dominion over the material world. The painting shows a seemingly triumphant Satan without his traditional pitchfork and horns, wearing a golden crown. He’s draped in royal robes, holds a staff, and is surrounded by skulls and other symbols of mankind’s fallen power. A regal king reigning from a regal throne?

And that’s what makes the painting so unsettling. It doesn’t portray Satan, also known as the Devil, Beelzebub, Lucifer, and the Father of Lies, as something evil, or weak, or obviously grotesque. It portrays him—and his evil—as attractive. Powerful. Exalted. Perhaps, even pleasant. However, the Good Book tells us in 1st Peter 5:8 that the Devil is like a roaring lion prowling to devour anyone who is not vigilant. He is compared to a roaring lion to show his predatory intent. Satan’s attacks are always personal and targeted, aiming to spiritually “devour” believers by gnawing at their faith and pulling them away from the God who loves them.

I truly believe what the Good Book says about Satan being a roaring lion, but I also believe that same lion can quietly, with a beguiling smile, make our sinful world look beautiful. Remember the Netflix series ”Lucifer”? The actor who portrayed him was tall and handsome, making the Devil seem beguiling and pleasant. After getting “bored” with Hell, he rebels against Father God a second time, opens a nightclub in Los Angeles, gets a job with the police department, and the story takes off from there. After a shaky start, the series ran for six seasons and earned high praise from a loyal fanbase on Netflix.

You see, in his cunning way, Satan can make rebellion against Father God look not like rebellion but a way to live joyfully without a care. “Don’t worry about all that sin stuff,” Satan whispers into itching ears. “There’s nothing to it. It’s all smoke and mirrors. A dog and pony show to lure the gullible. Fairy tales to entice the stupid. Eat! Drink! And be merry! Don’t worry about dying. Heaven isn’t worth giving up every worldly pleasure, and Hell isn’t so bad.”

But the “person” sitting on the throne in Mr. Stasiak’s painting isn’t meant to be comforting; he’s a warning. Because no matter how powerful, pleasant, and beguiling Satan may appear for a moment, never forget: Satan is not King. Father God is! And one day, every false crown, including Satan’s, will ultimately fall before Him. Romans 14:11 states: “One day all men will bow before the King.” This verse emphasizes the ultimate submission and acknowledgment of Father God’s authority, suggesting that all people will bow before Him in reverence and recognition of His sovereignty—Believers and non-believers alike.

One last bit of symbolism in Mr. Stasiak’s painting is this. He captures something unsettling in Satan’s gaze. Looking at the world he thinks he controls, his gaze seems to say, “I know something you don’t. I don’t have to raise a finger to destroy you, you men and women who bow before the throne of ambition and greed. I simply have to wait and watch you destroy yourselves, while chasing the seductive promise of earthly riches, lust, and power that I dangled in front of you.”

Even though Satan’s gaze reminds us of the world’s dangers and temptations, we are not left defenseless. For every beguiling promise and deceptive evil Satan throws at us, Father God offers His light and strength. No one who turns to Father God is left alone in these struggles. Through faith, prayer, and His loving grace, Father God gives us the power to resist, to rise above temptation, and to stand firm in hope. We may feel vulnerable, but Father God’s protection is always greater than any lie Satan whispers in our ears.

Ponder this and go forth.