The Enemy

 

 

Wartime soldier can make either of two dangerous mistakes.  One is to think there is no enemy.  So they are not ready to fight.  The other extreme is to become too interested in the enemy – with the danger of becoming a traitor.  Either way?  Disaster!

British writer C. S. Lewis, in his “Screwtape Letters”, noted that we can make the same mistake regarding Satan.  Some folk get too fascinated by this enemy and get sucked into occult practices.  Others think this enemy doesn’t exist so they’re vulnerable to his attacks.

The Bible avoids both dangers.  From Genesis 3 through to the book of Revelation it teaches the reality of a personal devil – but the Bible also warns us not to become too inquisitive about the activities of the devil and his minions.  Sadly, some Christians ascribe too much power to Satan.  One book I read gave the distinct impression the author had a big devil and a small God.

The apostle Peter has some sobering words about this enemy: “Be self-controlled and alert, your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in your faith...!”

First, Peter calls the devil ‘an enemy’.  The Bible pictures him as our opponent... our adversary.  He was an opponent of Adam and Eve... an adversary of the Lord Jesus Christ.  So the stark reality is that you have enemy – an enemy who will never let up on you.

Second, Peter says that he goes around like a roaring lion on the prowl.  That imagery of a prowling lion is telling.  It speaks of strength... power...!  Few animals can resist a lion.  It speaks of cunning... a prowling lion sneaks up on its prey.  And what about its ruthlessness?  Great claws rip the victim apart.  So the apostle is saying: Don’t you ever underestimate the enemy!  He’s not the impish little elf with a pitchfork and horns that you see in comics and cartoons.  No.  He’s a roaring lion out to destroy you.

There are many ways in which he tries to do that.  He still tempts us the way he tempted Adam and Eve in Paradise and the way he tempted Jesus in the wilderness.  He wants to destroy us... and he does that by undermining our relationship with God.  His desire is an empty heaven and a full hell.  When we struggle with life’s issues he whispers to us that God is being unfair or that he’s too busy to hear our prayers.

So how do we cope with such an enemy?  Peter offers good advice.

First, Peter says: be sober and watchful.  That’s not a call to be a teetotaller.  ‘Sober and watchful’ means we should never let down our guard.  The Apostle Paul spoke of it in terms of always being ready for battle... always wearing the armour God gives us to protect us: the helmet of salvation... the shield of faith... the sword of the Spirit.  Because there is a personal devil and we Christians are involved in a life-long war against that enemy.

But Peter doesn’t leave it that.  He especially calls us to resist this enemy standing firm in our faith.  How does that work?  Well our faith rests in the Lord Jesus Christ and his saving work.  The whole of Jesus’ life was one great battle against the enemy.  In the end the enemy thought he had won – when Jesus was laid in the grave.  But the wonderful reality is that Jesus death was actually the victory blow against the enemy.  The devil and all he stands for were decisively defeated when Jesus arose.  Christians now live in the light of Jesus’ victory.  Jesus has won... He has conquered...!  And by faith believers in Jesus now share in his victory.

However... although Satan is defeated he still rages and tries to destroy us.  Reformer Martin Luther agreed that the devil is a roaring lion.  But Luther pointed out that God has him on a chain.  So while he can make a lot of noise and do some damage he is always limited by the length of his chain.

Please don’t pretend that there’s no devil... or that he won’t bother you.  He will.  But standing firm in your faith means that next time you feel the enemy’s pressure, look to Jesus.  Remind yourself that thru Jesus the battle is already won.  By faith your life is hidden and protected in Jesus Christ.  That’s our formula for success.

John Westendorp
2MaxFM 3/11/2024

Previous Blog: Holiness: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t1xvd2ELnbKW3Fn_rPFwMDrixP7XBP78/view?usp=drive_link

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