A spiritual war is raging - 6 September 2024
By Imogen Campbell
Bible text(s)
2 Corinthians 10
It is clear, is it not, that a spiritual war is raging and we are all involved one way or another; there is no escaping it. There is one enemy and one true God, albeit triune in nature. The war is between them and their celestial armies. By default, we became collateral damage to Satan once mankind fell in that garden in Genesis 3.
Angels are immortal beings and a third of them were banished with the devil. Their punishment is eternal damnation in a lake of fire. It has been said that misery loves company; nothing could be truer than that in relation to the devil and fellow foes.
They love to win God’s children over – fearfully and wonderfully made in his image as Psalm 139 describes – to their despicable dark side. They come, waylay humans and mar the image of God in this world, putting out the light of God and corrupting the nature of his children.
The demonic forces do it by distorting the truth of the Word of God, or simply watering down the truth to such an extent that it is no longer powerful. The devil is already so full of himself that he puffs up humans with his hubris too. Without humility, we cannot see our need for God and salvation, and are then, ultimately, led astray.
There is a way to conquer the enemy so rife in false beliefs and skilled in deception: a method to counter the one so willing to produce counterfeit truth. After all, the one who masquerades as an angel of the light has lost his place and has no qualms of robbing you of yours. Didn’t Jesus say that the devil had just come to “steal, kill and destroy”. (John 10:10)
In John 8:31-32, Jesus said the following: “… If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
To be rid of the trap of Satan, knowing true freedom; we need to focus on Jesus and hold on to his teachings in the Word of God. In other words, practise what he preached. Then we will know the peace that comes from having a mind stayed on God as Isaiah 26:3 exhorts.
Shalom!
Prayer: We praise you, Lord, for the truth that is your Word. It is so effective in helping us to overcome both sin and the trappings of the devil. Amen
