What About The Devil?

Evil, ‘at its core,’ is real and incarnate.

Commonly called the Devil, Satan, the Evil One -- incarnate evil, or what bible scholars call personified evil -- is alive and roaming the world.  Is it any wonder Peter advises:  “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”  (1 Peter 5:8, NLT).   

But here’s the good news:  there’s no need to be devoured!  Yes, the Devil prowls and torments, but the Devil doesn’t have ultimate power.  Only God in Christ has ultimate power, as the ultimate lion, the Lion of Judah.  

I love the way John describes this lion in the book of Revelation.  “Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep!  See the Lion…of Judah, the Root of David has triumphed.  He is able to open the scroll and the seven seals…”  (Revelation 5:5); translated:  the Lion of Judah, Jesus, is able to do what no one else can do: opening what is bound, releasing what is shut. 

And so where do you feel bound and shut -- defeated?  The Lion of Judah, Jesus, can triumph for you too, even against the most ferocious lion -- the Devil himself!

Such triumph takes hold as we acknowledge: the devil is a liar, delighting in deceit.   Translated:  Satan loves to ‘twist and trick,’ trying to establish something as true, that’s not true. Jesus declares this forcefully in John 8.  Wake up, Jesus infers.   The devil “…was a murderer from the beginning -- not holding to the truth -- for there is no truth in him.  When he lies he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies…”  (John 8:44).  

Pretty conclusive!  Yet in spite of such reality, we believe Satan’s storyline, believing the worst, not the best. The result:  we tend to ‘beat up’ on ourselves, and on each other, becoming critical, caustic and cynical; but there’s an alternative: we can speak the truth to each other – speaking God’s Word – not Satan’s word.

Craig Barnes tells of a cynical time in his life, shortly after his father, a Baptist pastor, literally abandoned Craig and his brother, and their mother moved to Texas.  And so Craig and his brother muddled along, trying to find their way; for starters:  they tried to reunite with their mother by hitch-hiking to Texas.  But they didn’t get far, finding themselves stranded on-foot, on an exit ramp, in a snow storm, along Interstate 81.  And with that things got real negative, as the Devil whispered to Craig and his brother:  ‘what’s the use’ – ‘you’ll never get to Texas’ – it’s not worth it – it will never work out – ‘besides: your mother has probably abandoned you too!’  

But then Craig remembered something his father, of all people, did in negative situations.  Craig’s father would quiz Craig and his brother on bible verses they’d memorized.  And with that Craig and his brother started to quiz each other on bible verses they’d memorized, right in the middle of a snowstorm, on an exit ramp on Interstate 81.   Proverbs 3:5 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding…”  (Proverbs 3:5).   Isaiah 43:1 - “…Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine…”  Back and forth they went, until the negativity lifted, until Satan’s lies, ‘Satan’s snow job’ was defeated.  

I’m curious: where’s Satan doing a ‘snow job’ on you?  Where do you feel: 'what's the use,' 'its not worth it,' 'it will never work out'? 

Well, counter Satan's word, with God's Word.  'Fire-off’ scripture, either solo or with a partner, quizzing each other, until God's Word sinks in:  “…greater is He that is in you - than he that is in the world…” – 1 John 4:4.  Jesus and Jesus alone, tells the truth – for Jesus and Jesus alone “…is…truth…” -- John 14:4.

And so yes, Satan prowls as a lion, a ferocious lion; but Jesus also prowls, as the ultimate lion, the Lion of  Judah, always giving us victory, as we run to Him!