Leadership Thought: So You Don’t Believe in the Devil?

Dear Friends

One of the devices Satan employs is to allow people to create pictures of himself that cause us to deny his reality. He enjoys when people caricature him as some being dressed up in a red jump suit, with horns growing from his head, and carrying a pitchfork. He knows that people, when they view him this way, will  laugh at him, and as a result they will fail to take him seriously. This is part of the strategy he employs. He makes himself appear to be unreal, imaginary, fanciful, so no one will take him seriously, and once this happens,  he has got you.

The Apostle Paul knew differently, however. Paul believed in the reality of the devil, and he knew that he was crafty, cunning, and deceitful. He knew that the devil was his adversary and when he dealt with him, he was not dealing with some imaginary or fanciful creature. No, he knew that he wrestled…….against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ( Eph 6: 12) He knew that Satan was the commander and chief of these forces. He knew that the Christian’s world was not a playground but a battlefield and that he had better be constantly on guard lest he be ambushed when he least expected it.

A well-known evangelist was one day confronted by a man who said he didn’t believe in the devil. The man asked why he didn’t believe in the devil, and he said, “Because I have never met him.” The evangelist said “that probably is because you are traveling in the same direction. Turn around, do an about face, and change directions, and you will not only meet him, but you will discover he has the power to destroy you.”

Jesus met him, and He called him a liar, a murderer, and a thief. He said he was already judged and that one day he would be caste into a fiery pit. But for now, he roams our world, unleashed and ever ready to wreck his havoc on unsuspecting believers. As Corrie Ten Boom wrote : “He wastes no ammunition on those who are dead in trespasses and sins. “ He aims at Christians.

Satan prowls like a roaring lion seeking those whom he can devour. He is our adversary, our enemy, the one who wages war against us and all  who would seek to live for Christ. Don’t ever underestimate his power, and his ability to deceive and devour you.

As someone said, “Satan is never partying late Saturday night frequenting the bar scene. He goes to bed early on Saturday night so he can be well rested to go to church with Christians.”

Satan is subtle, scheming, strong and yes, spiritual. He will rob us of our joy and victory, and so we need to recognize him and take him seriously. But we also need to know that at the Cross he was eternally defeated and that the ultimate victory has been won by Christ. We can lean on Christ, and we can rely on Him for our victory. When he comes knocking at our door, don’t go yourself, but send Jesus, and Satan will go “ a running.”

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom