Our Enemy Is Real: Be Vigilant!

Verse of the day: 1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

It's always interesting to me to hear the answers I get when I ask, "What do you think of when you think about the devil, and what he looks like?" I get some interesting answers. Sadly, when I ask many Christians, the answer is the same as an unsaved person gives. Too often, the devils get the upper hand on us because we are deceived in respect to what they look like or how they operate. Yet, that information is given to us in the Bible. However, we have allowed Hollywood to paint a picture for us that is completely false (with very few exceptions). The truth is that he is not the ugly creature portrayed for us on the TV screen. He was the most beautiful angel created by God. He was given beauty, wisdom, wealth, and talent (the same things he uses today to draw us away from God). He uses these same things to bring out our pride (which was his downfall), and convince us that we don't need God. He can appear as an angel of light. He does not live in hell, as we can see from this verse (although, one day he will be cast into the Lake of Fire). In the Book of Job, he had to present himself before God (along with the rest of the angels) to give account for what he was doing, and his answer was that he was going to and fro on the earth (same as Peter recorded for us). The bottom line is that our enemy is alive, and well, and wants to destroy us. He wants to steal our worship, kill our peace, and joy, and destroy our relationships (starting with our relationship with God). He enjoys watching us, as born again believers, and God's children, as the church, be divided. He wants to isolate each of us so that he can keep us deceived. The truth is that he, and his demons, are an organized army (Ephesians 6), and they are good at causing strife in our midst, by using our own shortcomings, selfish desires, and refusal to obey God's Word. The struggles, and battles we go through in this life are no different than what our brethren around the world suffer. This is why it is important that we encourage one another, and love each other, as God commands. Most importantly, we MUST draw close to God. His Word promises that if we draw near to Him (submit ourself), He will draw near to us, and thereby we resist Satan, and he will flee (James 4); not because he fears us, but because he knows he cannot defeat God. In the Book of Job, God set boundaries for Satan that he dared not cross. So it is with us. When the devils come at us (including Satan), God sets the boundaries of what they can do. So let us be wise enough to recognize it. Let us stay in God's Word, and apply it to our lives. Let us remain in prayer, always thanking, and praising God. Always trusting God to see us through whatever He allows. Let us love, and encourage one another. Be watchful, and in Christ let us be victorious!