"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around
like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8
Dear Friends,
One of the devices of Satan is to allow people to create pictures
of himself that cause us to deny his reality. He enjoys it when people
caricature him as some being dressed up in a red jumpsuit, with horns growing
out of his head, and carrying a pitchfork. He knows when people view him this
way, they will laugh at him, and as a result they will fail to take him
seriously. That is part of the strategy he employs. Make himself appear to be
unreal, imaginary, and no one will take him seriously, and once this happens,
he’s got you.
The apostle Paul knew differently, however, for he 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, and he knew that Satan was the commander-in-chief of
these forces. He knew that the Christians world was not a playground but a
battleground, 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. When the evangelist asked him why he didn’t
believe in the devil, the man said, “Because I've never met him.” The
evangelist said to the man, “The reason you have never met him 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 cast into a fiery
pit. But for now, he roams our world, unleashed, ever ready to wreck his havoc
on unsuspecting believers. As Corrie Ten Boom, remarked, “The devil 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.
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 the Christians.”
Satan is subtle, scheming, strong, and yes, spiritual, and he
loves to travel with the Christian. But while he would seek to rob us of
our joy and our victory, we need to remember that he was defeated at the cross.
The battle against Satan has already been won by Jesus, and every believer
possesses His same power to triumph over him. So, when Satan comes knocking at
your door, don't go yourself. Just send Jesus, and Satan will go a running.
Yours in faith and friendship,
Tom
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