“Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.” — Genesis 3:1
Who is the serpent?
“And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.” — Revelation 12:9
If you don’t realize you have an enemy, it’s tough to make sense of the world around us. When we are blind to this, we can very easily see lies as truth and truth as lies. A life built upon lies will only last so long; oftentimes, we only see it when life comes crashing down. That’s why the most powerful lies are the ones we tell ourselves.
As C.S. Lewis said, “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.” There is a balance in neither overestimating nor ignoring him. Being aware is not about giving him power, but about being vigilant and prepared. It’s vital to remain grounded in reliance on God rather than focusing on the enemy.
Always remember: the war is won in Jesus, but the battles still rage on. However, it’s only a battle if you are fighting back. We are called to battle not in our own strength, but in His. As it says in Ephesians 6:10, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” The battle is His, and our only call is to be obedient. Hear Him. Trust Him. Obey Him.
Genesis 3 is the foundation of the battle—and every other battle that has happened or will happen. All of the tactics he used on Adam and Eve are the same ones he uses today. Let me be clear: Satan’s objective isn’t for you to “have too much fun.” His objective is destruction. Not just one extra beer or crossing the line with your boyfriend or girlfriend—destruction.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” — John 10:10
Rob, murder, and ruin versus an abundant, rich, and satisfying life. Everything Satan is, God is not; and everything God is, Satan is not. The only thing more powerful than Satan’s hate for you is God’s love for you.
Did you notice Satan “was thrown down to the earth”? Sin was not originally part of Eden. It came from outside humankind; it is not an ingredient in human nature. As we will see, it was invited in by Adam and Eve, but you will soon see God will provide the way out through Jesus. “For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead” 1 Corinthians 15:21