You may recognize this as the title of a book written by Hal Lindsay in 1977. It is. But the same arena is alive today as then – in fact ever since we were introduced to Satan in Genesis 3:1:
“Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he (the serpent) said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”
Since Satan cannot be overlook as a potential source of problems, let’s look at the impact of this brief introduction to the most devious force known to mankind.
The Life Application Study Bible informs us: “Disguised as a crafty serpent, Satan came to temp Eve. Satan at one time was an angelic being who rebelled against God and was thrown out of heaven.
“As a created being, Satan has definite limitations. Although he is trying to tempt everyone away from God, he will not be the final victor.
“Why does Satan tempt us?
“Temptation is Satan’s invitation for us to give up on God’s kind of life.”
First Peter 5:8 warns: “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
From the standpoint of creating problems in a person’s life, the devil is limited in what he can do, but he is very persistent.
First John 4:4 states the devil’s scope of influence: “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
Satan is a defeated foe who has not been put away yet. He cannot have any authority over you and I unless we allow him to.
Realistically speaking, “What should you expect if you put the enemy in charge?” In one word – problems.
Satan, as active as he is, is perhaps the second least source of problems in your life and mine.
God, the least source of our problems, will ultimately be our Source of Help over Satan who is the second least source of our problems.
Next time: The Third Least Source of Problems, Other People’s Poor Choices Affect Us
Rev. Thomas (Tom) C. Lacy, Advisory Board Member of the Virginia Christian Alliance and Founder and Director, of New Hope Counseling Service.
