The Enemy vs. The Word of God

“You’re worthless,” says the enemy. “You’ll never amount to anything,” says the voice of self-doubt. “If you don’t do fifteen naked handstands in church every month, you’re not saved,” says the false one.

Okay, that last one is hyperbole, but I hope the message will be made clear. The enemy, whether the one inside, the one outside, or the one unseen, will egg on your worst thoughts and fears. The devourer seeks to destroy you by any means necessary. Indeed, he roams the earth like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8). But he cannot control those who are in Christ unless they listen to him.

There’s a difference between listening to the enemy and merely hearing the enemy. If the devil, your sinful self, or the world tells you that you aren’t saved, you need only look to the Cross. Christ is the righteous one, the perfect propitiation for our sins, and not us. He is the sinless one. If we say that we have no sin, then the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8).

If the dragon says that you are a worthless speck, then you know that he is a liar. You are made in the image of God, as are all humans (Genesis 1:26-27). Your life is precious. God cares for even the fallen sparrow. How much more, then, is your life worth? The Lord, through His Scripture, says that you should not be afraid, for you are prized above a plethora of sparrows (Matthew 10:29).

If the father of liars makes the claim that you’ll never do anything, then he reveals himself as the untruth. Even if this premise were true, we need rest in the promises of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose righteousness, whose blood, is the only Way to salvation (Romans 3:25-26). The purpose of man, to glorify God, is best accomplished through belief on Him. This is the only “work” necessary, the greatest work of all, brought about by Him and Him alone (John 6:29).

Through this, we have no reason to boast in ourselves (Ephesians 2:8) and know that grace is grace, lest it cease and become something lesser (Romans 11:6). When the enemy is at your door, banging his fist, trumpeting his power, know that the Lord is greater than any liar, any deceiver, and that there is no condemnation for those who believe on Christ (Romans 8:1-2).

So don’t listen to the enemy. Heed not these attacks. Pay the Lord His due and trust in Christ alone. But we’re human. We fail. We sin. We put our faith in the wrong persons. We’ll take the words and lies of the devil as gospel when they very much aren’t. That is our nature. Thank God we have a great advocate, our Lord Jesus (1 John 2:1-2), in whom we have reconciliation with the Father above (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).

“Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father. To whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Galatians 1:3-5)

The enemy can and does knock us around. We fall prey to deception, ignorance, and self-deprecation. But thank God there is One whose nature is greater than ours. He is the One whom He has sent, the One on whom we should believe. This is eternal life, provided through the Lord Jesus Christ (John 17:3).

I know that I’m not great. I don’t need the enemy to remind me of that. But I’m not counting on myself to see the Lord. I’m relying on Him and Him alone. By His grace and mercy, I have faith. By His blood, I am cleansed. By His righteousness, I believe I will see heaven – and the New Jerusalem beyond that – one day.

Thanks and praise be to God. I think a reminder of His sovereignty and His greatness is a great way to start the week. May we listen to what He says and not the enemy. Peace be with you, thanks for reading, and God bless.