The times are unstable and volatile. If we’re not careful, our focus will stay on the fires, fights, and division out there and we’ll miss the traps that have been set in here, closer to home, in our hearts. Satan is clever. He’s happy to distract you with global disturbances while he chips away at the foundations of your devotion to Christ.

When I was a teenager growing up in the south, adults often warned us about the satanic dangers lurking around us. Everything was suspect. Heavy metal music. Role playing games like Dungeons and Dragons. Dolls and action figures. Even Saturday morning cartoons like Thundercats, He-man, and The Smurfs were considered demonic. A satanic panic took over the culture. People were obsessed with the Devil.

Somehow that obsession survived the 80’s. If you get a cold, it could still be the prince of darkness. If your goldfish dies, Satan may be behind it. If your lawn turns brown or someone steals that perfect front row parking spot, maybe the Devil did it! 

Some obsess. But for others, the thought of a personal devil sounds ridiculous. How can modern, civilized people believe such a thing? We’re far too sophisticated to entertain such silly explanations for evil and calamity. How can we take the claims of Christianity serious with talking snakes, a personal devil, and demons flying around?   

Both of those views represent extremes. Either dismiss the idea of a personal devil altogether, or obsess over his existence. Satan loves both extremes. 

The truth is…from the cradle to the coffin, all of life is war. Your soul, your mind, your body, your family, your career and relationships. All of them, battlefields of conflict.

When Paul was closing his letter to the Ephesian Church, he didn’t say, “In conclusion, everything’s awesome, peace out, y’all. Sincerely, your friend, Paul.” He said something much more sobering: 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. –Ephesians 6:10–13

I’ll paraphrase. “Before I go, I’ll remind you, my friends, that when you confessed Jesus as Lord, you put crosshairs on your back. Watch out for the Devil. He’s powerful. He’s organized. He’s cunning. But God gave you the resources you need to stand against him. Use them! Protect yourselves!” 

You get no extremes from Paul. Only reality. An invisible battle is raging all around you. Don’t be naive. Don’t be afraid. Protect yourself. He used the word “against” six times. We can’t claim ignorance here. We’re in combat. We wrestle not merely against flesh and blood, but against a formidable, invisible enemy. We’ve been warned.   

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