Happy Friday Everyone
For the first time ever, I believe, I feel the need to expound on one of my previous emails based on some comments I received. And please know that I LOVE it when readers push back on some point. It means that they are reading the email, thinking about it, perhaps providing a secondary interpretation, and forcing me to be as accurate as possible.
Two weeks ago I stated that the Triune God was the most powerful force in the universe. And no one had an issue with that, thank goodness. But then I mentioned that Satan (and his demons) ranked as the second most powerful force. A couple of readers offered the following verse to counter my statement:
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” [James 4:7]
Which makes it sound like the born-again Christian is more powerful than the devil. So allow me to make this point–Satan would like to ‘devour’ the Christian and non-Christian alike:
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” [I Peter 5:8]
This verse was written as a warning for everyone. As was the following verse Jesus taught his disciples (and everyone) in the Lord’s prayer:
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” [Matthew 6:13]
Ranking the powers in the universe was not meant to be my main point. My point is that Satan has the power to deceive even Christians, as evidencedby Jesus’ prediction of what will happen in the End Times:
“At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” [Matthew 24:10-13]
We do not want to be part of the ‘many’ or the ‘most’ in the above passage, but we do want to be those who ‘stand firm’, because Satan is still at work. On Christians and non-Christians alike.
Blessings,
–Keith