1 Corinthians 15:24 KJV – “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.”

Paul Drecksler is lucky to be alive. According to a March 16, 2022, UPI story, he inadvertently entered someone else’s home and spent the night. Fortunately, upon finding him asleep in a bed, the homeowner showed mercy on Drecksler after learning that it was an innocent mistake. Here is what happened.

At 2:00 AM, Drecksler arrived at what he thought was the Airbnb he had rented in Florida. The door was unlocked, so he let himself in. The bedroom was made up, neat, and tidy. There were even two clean towels folded on the dresser. The next morning, he was awakened by the homeowner who said, “Hey, can I help you? This is my house.” Drecksler replied, “Um, no, this is an Airbnb that I rented.” The surprised homeowner repeated, “No, this is my house.”

As it turns out, Drecksler’s GPS had led him to the wrong driveway. The Airbnb he had rented was actually the house next door. Both he and the homeowner got a good laugh out of it once everything was sorted out. Sadly, not all incidents of trespassing end with a chuckle. It can be quite dangerous when you intrude into places you do not belong.

Thousands of years ago, Lucifer, the anointed cherub, attempted to go where he was not authorized. He said, “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above 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” (Isaiah 14:13–14). This was not an accidental intrusion; it was an intentional coup.

When Satan tried to usurp God’s sovereign rule in heaven it did not end well for him. God cast him out of heaven as a profane thing and banished him to the ground (Ezekiel 28:16-17). Despite this severe judgment, the Devil continues to venture into areas that are out of his jurisdiction. Satan is a slow learner.

For more than six thousand years, he has meddled in places he does not belong. He has intruded into marriage, trying to redefine this divine institution; but he does not belong in the realm of marriage. He has encroached on gender, seeking to abolish the male/female distinctions and destroy the image of God in man; but gender is beyond his area of expertise. He has interfered with the sanctity of life, killing the unborn and infirm; but he has no say in the sanctity of life. He is even toying with the creation of life itself, promoting transhumanism and artificial intelligence; but he will never be able to create life ex nihilo—it is beyond his capabilities.

Unlike Paul Drecksler’s accidental trespassing, Satan’s encroachment is willful and deliberate. He comes to “steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10). He is a premeditated murderer who loves death (John 8:44; Proverbs 8:36). In contrast to the Airbnb snafu that ended with a chuckle and a handshake, Satan’s end will be dreadful. When he faces his final judgment, all the world will be astonished (Ezekiel 28:19).

Although in this present age, the whole world is under Satan’s sway (1 John 5:19), and although he is wreaking havoc everywhere we turn, one day he will be cast into the lake of fire and be tormented day and night forever and ever (Revelation 20:10).

At the end of the day, Satan is nothing more than an ill-fated interloper, trespassing where he does not belong. This is God’s Kingdom, not his (1 Corinthians 15:24)!