First, a look at the goal of a programmer. Malware is unlike most software because instead of helping the prepared user, it is designed to hinder the unprepared user. Goals range from almost innocent, a bored student seeing if it can be done, to outright malicious, a criminal stealing money, data, or even computer power. Innocent writers may be able to say it was all for good fun, but the general goal is still malicious and often times harmful. Understanding this thought helps prepare Internet users against foolish activities that put themselves and their computers at risk.Satan has very few goals in "life." He has already failed to follow the plan of salvation, so now he simply tries to make everybody else as miserable as he can. Sometimes it is through causing people to exercise their agency to limit their happiness, other times he tempts people to choose to inflict pain and trials on others. His ultimate goal is to tempt people away from God, and he will do everything he can to do that. He authors temptations that lead to addictions, that hurt other people, and that satisfies temporary desires in exchange for lasting consequences. He also jumps on legitimate trials, and tries to argue against the natural process of overcoming challenges and growing from them.
Understanding the goal of something helps us know how to deal with it. Just as knowing that a company wants to make money will help you be skeptical of promises of unlimited cash in exchange for a down payment, knowing that Satan wants to hurt us will keep us aware that what he offers us is not going to help us out. The scriptures tell us that he teaches a man not to pray (2 Nephi 32:8), that he will not tempt us to do good (Moroni 7:12), and that he works according to the person (2 Nephi 28:7-9, 20-22). We need to realize that we are being tempted all the time, and that we can choose to resist this temptation. Knowing why things are happening to us won't automatically protect us from doubt, discouragement, or mistakes, but it will give us tools to overcome those trials.
I feel obligated to preface this by indicating I'm no longer a believer. HOWEVER, this post and the focus on intent certainly caught my interest.
ReplyDeleteAs a criminal prosecutor, a defendant's intent is very important in helping me determine what criminal charges to file and the appropriate sanction/punishment to recommend. Whether the defendant acts in self-defense, recklessly, negligently, with depraved indifference, intentionally, or knowingly, can make all the difference in what response the public welfare requires.
I thought it was interesting that you categorized Satan's actions as intentional or knowing. It's a fair categorization, considering that he would not have been subjected to the veil. And it's criminal defendants who act intentionally and knowingly that are ultimately treated most harshly in the criminal justice system, which parallels the expected consequences for Satan in the end.