Monday, November 13, 2017

Why isn’t the devil as scary as he used to be? .......... Parables 666

April 25, 2000

Halloween costume racks always include one that looks like red underwear with a long tail, a grotesque horned mask, and a fake pitch fork. Yet no matter how frightening it is supposed to be, when this outfit skips down the street, we know that under it is someone’s happy child.

The devil is not too scary anymore. His so-called persona is entrusted to little children and comedians make jokes about him.

For instance, remember Flip Wilson dressed as Geraldine? In one skit, his character explained overspending on a new outfit by saying, “The devil made me do it.”

When asked why he did not respond with, “Get thee behind me, Satan,” Geraldine batted long eyelashes and replied, “I did . . . but he told me it looks good from the back too.”

We know how it works. I have done the same with temptation. I know better but tell myself some reason or other why I should give in to it. Nevertheless, I’m not convinced that the devil is a mere twig on my conscience. Scripture does not support the myth that he is only a small guilt that we can easily excuse.

Although some might think the devil is all-in-your-head, he was very real for God’s Son. Jesus mentions him several times. He also went nose to nose with him in two marathon battles, one in the wilderness, the other at the Cross.

Since Jesus taught the devil was far more than a symbol of evil, we would be wise to consider what he can do to us and how we can overcome his efforts.

First, we need to recognize his tricks. They are tiresomely old stuff. For instance, he started his career with a lie to Eve in the Garden of Eden: “Did God really say that?”

When Eve listened to his suggestion, she doubted God’s Word, then stepped on a slippery slope into sin. Satan decided that line was a keeper and has been using it ever since.

He slams the Bible, wanting us to think that God did not say anything; it was written by mere men. Or, if God was involved, it has been twisted, or is impossible to understand. This tactic also implies God is powerless since He cannot preserve the purity and accuracy of His Word.

Another trick also started in Eden when Satan told Eve if to eat the forbidden fruit and be like God. He said her eyes would be opened and she would know “good and evil.” That is, she would be a better person with the knowledge obtained by disobeying God, and could rule her own life without His help.

This lie still makes its rounds too. Satan convinces people they are as smart as God and do not need Him. Some buy into this delusion to the point that they consider themselves divine. Remember the actress who loudly proclaimed, “I am God”?

Perhaps Satan’s most appealing lie was when he told Eve that she “would not surely die” because of her sin. He convinced her that disobeying God has no ultimate consequence. Therefore, she could do whatever she wanted.

His fabrication that “you will not die” surfaces in several ways, from complete philosophies (like reincarnation) to the simple notion that we are invincible. Since death “happens only to other people,” we take foolish risks. We also fail to prepare ourselves for death and for God’s judgment. No wonder Jesus called the devil a destroyer as well as a liar, and the father of lies.

Yet Jesus showed us how to fight this enemy. In His wilderness encounter, He responded to every attack with: “It is written . . .” followed by a Scripture quote. Eventually, Satan gave up and left Him alone.

To win any spiritual battle, we must also use the Bible. It enables us to spot the enemy’s lies and resist them. Then, instead of letting him push us around, we can make the devil turn tail (if he has a tail) and run the other way.

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