"Lucifer Falls"

“Lucifer Falls”

A church friend recently visited her sister in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York. While there they took a trip to a state park west of Ithaca where they viewed Lucifer Falls. (Karen grew up about an hour from this location but had never heard of it so it’s a well-kept secret.) I “googled” it and saw pictures—the water drops 115 feet from Enfield Creek to a pool below, truly a remarkable sight! How this attraction got its name is uncertain but some believe it goes back to an Iroquois word from the 18^th century.

“Lucifer Falls” could be the title for Isaiah 14:12-15 (NKJV): “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne over the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit,” (This is the only place in Scripture where this name for the devil is used. {The Hebrew word means “morning star” and is so translated in most newer versions.} But the Bible identifies him by many other names and descriptive phrases.) He occupied a high place in Heaven but pride overcame him (notice the five “I wills”) and he was banished from God’s presence. Since then he’s “…(been) roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.” (Job 1:7).

The Apostle Paul warns his readers that “…Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14). Just as Lucifer Falls’ beauty attracts tourists our archenemy has the ability to make sin look good and draw us into his clutches. Our Lord’s brother writes, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7). How? By following Jesus’ example when He was tempted and confront Satan with Scripture (see Matthew 4:1-10). The result? “Then the devil left him….” (Matthew 4:11) because he cannot fight the power of God’s Word (‘…the word of God is living and powerful….”—Hebrews 4:12, NKJV).

Lucifer has fallen once and he will a second time: onto his knees before Jesus (“…at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth….”—Philippians 2:10, NLT, emphasis added). And so will each of us, either willingly as Savior or unwillingly as Judge, Which will it be? The choice is up to each of us.

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan