THE QUERIST COLUMN

July 1, 1987 Issue
Ronny F. Wade

Question: Would you please explain how the devil works today?

Answer: The devil, arch enemy of all Christians, is in the earth working to destroy all good. "Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it." Job 1:7. "Be sober be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Pet 5:8. Even though our enemy is not wise, he is extremely wiley. He is intelligent and the subtleties with which he snares the souls of men are appealing and powerfully effective. We must beware, lest he get an advantage of us. "We are not ignorant of his devises." 2 Cor 2:11.

The devil works through people. He used Jobs wife in an effort to get that good man to renounce God. He used Delilah to destroy Samson. He used Jezebel to hinder the work of Elijah. He used Judas to betray the Lord. He tempted Christ through Peter in Mt 16:23. We, like Peter, may become an instrument of Satan by allowing him to use us in the promotion of evil or the hindrance of good. Every sin is of the devil. Satan, also works in the realm of religion. He joins churches and convinces mankind that anything done in the name of religion is pleasing to God. With him religion is all right if it does nothing more than fit his purpose of making merchandise of souls. "And no marvel for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." 2 Cor 11:14-15.

Another way in which the devil works, is to blind the minds of men. "In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." 2 Cor 4:4 He can plant in the human heart prejudice, indifference, and other seeds which grow up and obstruct Gods will from the minds eye. Even after the good seed of the Kingdom is planted, he can steal it out of the heart. Mt 13:15. This may be done through an appeal to family loyalty, popularity, worldliness, or procrastination. In Acts 13:6-12 we have an account of the devil using a man to do this very thing. Finally the devil works today by tempting Christians. How? you ask. The answer: in every conceivable way. His approach is enticing and alluring. He knows the ways most likely to bring about success in getting the Christian to stumble. He has persecuted the Church from its very earliest days. He will attack from the outside using every false way in an attempt to destroy truth. He will attack from the inside by using false teachers (Acts 20:28-30) to draw away disciples and by creating strife and envy among brethren. "For where envy and strife is there is confusion and every evil work." James 3:16. He, through temptation, will try and lead us into sinful conduct and ungodly behavior. Make no mistake about it, the devil is real, he is alive and he is working.