It is no fun thinking about it, but the Bible is clear that those who follow Jesus are opposed by the Devil who will try to defeat them. We read again about God’s enemy and ours in this chapter. Verse 17, paints a picture of the battle we, who follow Jesus, are in. Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.
Many today try to deny the truth that Christ followers have an enemy who is after them and who is keeping those who do not follow Jesus blinded. But believing in Satan and demons and angels, for that matter, is the Biblical worldview.
As much as I don’t like the truth that God’s enemy, the Devil, is trying to derail Christ-followers from faithfulness, it is difficult to read the Bible and not face that reality. CS Lewis’ ‘Screwtape Letters’ is an ingenious book about the warfare that the Devil uses to get us to live ineffectual Christian lives. If you haven’t read that book I commend it to you!
As real as the Devil is, our God is stronger and wiser. And although we may not be completely shielded from the Devil’s fury, we are sealed by the promised Holy Spirit who will see us through to our salvation! (Ephesians 1:13-14: And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.)
So while I am wary of the enemy, I recognize that the Lord is stronger so the closer I stay near Jesus the safer I am because Jesus wins!
So as I settle into my day before the Lord’s Day I contemplate the words John heard spoken which he recorded this chapter:
“Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short” (10-12).
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Halleluiah… You win. Give me Your strength to live until Jesus returns or You call me home. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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