Cosmic Battle

Am I the only one who gets tired of Satan’s work in the world – especially in the church and in Christians?  The Bible says that the enemy masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), steals the Word from people (Mark 4:15), keeps people bound (Luke 13:16), and tempts us (1 Corinthians 7:5), torments us (2 Corinthians 12:7), outwits us (2 Corinthians 2:11), and stops God’s work (1 Thessalonians 2:18).  The Bible also tells us that Satan is a murderer and a liar (John 8:44) and accuses Christians before God night and day (Revelation 12:10).  This probably doesn’t cover everything that he does, but is anyone else ready to shout “ENOUGH”?

Most of us have probably experienced the work of Satan in our lives at one time or another.  And, if you belong to a community of believers, you haven’t been immune to his attacks either.  Satan is alive and well in every church, because every church has humans he can deceive and use.  Sometimes I am discouraged by the amount of power God allows Satan to have and the work of the enemy that God allows to happen in spite of His sovereignty.  It’s easy to ask “Why?”

But here’s the good news that we need to remember when the enemy’s work leads us to be discouraged (also a work of Satan!): God IS sovereign, and Satan’s power is limited and within God’s permission – he does not have ultimate power or control, now or ever.  Jesus told Peter in Luke 22:31 that Satan had asked for God’s permission to sift him like wheat.  And the story of Job in the Old Testament reminds us that Satan’s power to hurt Job was always limited by God’s permission.  We might not be happy all the time about what God permits Satan to do, but we need to never lose sight of the fact that the enemy is limited and God is sovereign.  The victory has already been won, and Satan’s days to work are numbered.

Here are a couple of other thoughts to aid with discouragement when Satan seems to be winning: Jesus prayed for God to protect us from the evil one (John 17:15), and He also advocates for us daily in the Father’s presence (1 John 2:1).  I don’t have to understand all of the ways God works and how His sovereignty interacts with my life here on earth – all I need to know is Who is on my side.  After all, “if God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).  And knowing that Jesus asked God to protect us from the evil one helps me to recognize that things could definitely be worse.  We simply don’t know or understand what God’s protection means and what He does every day to protect us.  Instead of focusing on the work of the enemy, we need to focus on what we have been given as our protection in the midst of a dangerous world: God’s presence.  Never underestimate the incredible gift of “God with us” and the important role He plays in protecting us from the evil one’s work.

Yes, Satan has won a lot of battles, and he will win a few more.  For whatever reason, this is part of God’s plan for now.  But I am thankful that God is protecting me from at least some of what the enemy wants to accomplish in my life.  Even though I need to be alert (1 Peter 5:8), I don’t need to be afraid.  In this ongoing battle in the spiritual realm, we are told that God “. . . rides across the heavens to help you . . . the eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you” (Deuteronomy 33:26-27).  Understanding God’s protection allows us to live the free and joyful lives He has called us to – choosing joy over discouragement.  Are you in?