Satan's real goal

Letter V

"...the real business of undermining faith and preventing the formation of virtues."

1 Peter 5:8 "...the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for anyone he can devour." 

Satan’s real goal

Satan's real goal is to undermine our faith. He will do everything he can to get us to lose our faith in God. 

Peter's original readers would have thought of those lions that other believers were being feed too, no doubt. Satan is not our friend. He is out to hurt us in anyway he can. Don't be fooled. There is a real spiritual battle going on in this world and even though Satan knows he will not ultimately win, he is trying to bring as many down as he can with him.

So how does Satan undermine your faith? Makes you doubt that you are loved and accepted by God. Makes you fearful of the future. Makes you question if God is near you. Makes you wonder if your prayers are really answered.  Makes you envy those who don’t believe in God and supposedly have a “better life.” Any of these sound familiar?

Satan is alway at work in us. Usually attacking us through our mind and heart. That is why we need the belt of Truth, helmet of Salvation, breastplate of righteousness and the shield of faith (Ephesians 6). They protect us from Satan’s ever present attacks whose aim is to undermine our faith.

So be alert. Be ready. Be prepared. Don't be lazy in your spiritual life. Are you preparing yourself by daily studying God's word? Are you praying for a God led heart for the day? Are you preparing yourself for the lies of Satan that will come your way today?

Take up your armor and be ready to fight.

Thoughts from Screwtape letters

As I start these new post about C.S.Lewis Screwtape Letters I am enduring the one of worst cold spells here in Minnesota, USA. So it is ironic to start to think about a book about Satan who dwells in the lake of fire. My plan is to find one or more quotes from each letter and then comment on them adding a verese or two from scripture. Hope you enjoy.

Preface

"One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them."

Which way do you lean?

At the beginning of a book on Satan, Lewis reminds us that there are two ways of thinking about Satan. We are in need of this reminder even now, some  70 plus years later.  Do we make too much of Satan or disregard him altogether? This is the reality of where we live. Some will try to find Satan under every rock, while others will ignore his everyday workings. Scripture reminds us that balance in this area is essential.

2 Corinthians 2:11 "I have done this so that we may not be taken advantage of by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes." 

Paul obviously thought that Satan was real and his schemes are real too.

James 4:7 "Therfore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you."

James, the leader of the early church, definitely believes that Satan is real. The advice that we are given here, is foundational. Yes we will be attacked by Satan, but there is a way out, submit to God.  

Wayne Grudem in Systematic Theology, reminds us that Satan's work is to "destroy every work of a God." You are a work of God and Satan wants to destroy you. Satan doesn't bother with those who are not a threat, but rather to those who have chosen to reject Satan and follow God. 

 

We need balance in our understanding of who Satan is and isn't.  There is a real spiritual battle going on. We need not give Satan more attention then he deserves yet we need to treat his attacks seriously.

What do you think?