I Almost Didn’t Write This Article on the Devil
I have been doing some reading lately about evil in the world and came across a fascinating comparison. The author said it something like this: “Light can stand alone, but there must be light in order to have darkness.” Then he proceeded to make this analogy with lies versus truth, evil versus good, etc. The devil is a real being who was created for other purposes but took on a role of choosing to go his way in defiance of the Father God Who created him. No one would have chosen to create evil, hatred, and lies; but they exist. They are in stark contrast with good, love, and truth.
I am not going to go too far down this theological path, but I do want you to know that he, the devil, is real; he hates God and all God loves. He hates you regardless of your relationship to Jesus or lack of one. His reasoning must be something on the order of “if I can destroy the purposes, people, and plans of God, then I can take God’s place and chart my own eternal path.” I don’t know that for sure, but let’s take a quick look at life’s good, bad, and ugly. (John 10:10; 2 Corinthians 11:4, I Peter 5:8)
Love is such a great gift from God, but why is it so difficult to do, even hard to find? Life itself is so awesome, but why does it seem so many are out to destroy the lives of others or even their own? Why are so many dissatisfied with their own life to the point that they can’t accept their gender, their value, their purpose, or find real happiness or true loving relationships?
These questions don’t show there is no God. They show there is one! Choices were given to angels before humans were created, but both the angels and, subsequently, humans chose to try to be “gods” instead of submitting to the loving God Who gave them life. The very idea that evil, misery, loneliness, and pain exist point to the reality of the opposites: righteousness, joy, intimate friendships, and comfort. These good gifts come from the God who loved us first.
We aren’t very wise at times, are we? I know it isn’t always easy to recognize the enemy’s schemes because he comes as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:14) He can seem so gentlemanly or mild-mannered. However, we certainly can learn his schemes, recognize them, and thwart them in our own lives by Holy Spirit’s power and truth God reveals. You can recognize his work because there will be darkness and death rather than light and life associated with his work. We may not see it at first, but it will show up. There will be lies and broken relationships, marriages destroyed, families ripped apart, and self-destructive actions chosen. Look around and you’ll see it way too often.
Look also and prayerfully investigate God’s solutions and find life, satisfying relationships for singles and marrieds, truth that frees, families saved, and wise choices leading to abundant life. These are the signs of the presence and power of God. Jesus makes these possible and available.
Satan may come as a “gentleman” (as pictured above) complete with manners, soft tones, or seemingly logical ideas; but they will ultimately be shown for the deception and anti-Jesus lies they are.
Would you join me in searching for God’s truth and love to set you free to live dependent on God, submitted to Him, learning His Word, and giving thanks for all God has supplied?
Thank Jesus with me for putting Satan in his place and offering us forgiveness and eternal life from the cross and the empty tomb. Because Jesus lives so can we. He triumphed; so can we. James 4:7;Genesis 3:15; 1 Corinthians 2:7-9, especially verse 8.