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WHEN WE HEAR IT, IT BRINGS TO OUR MIND CARTOON IMAGES OF A
CHARACTER WHO WEARS RED PAJAMAS AND HAS HORNS ON ITS HEAD AND
CARRIES A PITCH FORK.
NO WONDER IT'S SOMETIMES HARD TO TAKE SATAN SERIOUSLY.
BUT THE IMAGE IN THE BIBLE IS QUITE DIFFERENT.
IT DESCRIBES SATAN AS A VERY REAL BUT UNSEEN SPIRITUAL ENEMY.
HE WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED AS A GOOD ANGEL,
BUT HE AND MANY OTHER ANGELS REBELLED AGAINST GOD AND BECAME
HIS ENEMIES AND OUR ENEMIES AS WELL.
JESUS TOOK SATAN VERY SERIOUSLY AND HE HAD TO RESIST HIM
THROUGHOUT HIS TIME ON EARTH.
WE MUST DO THE SAME.
JESUS WARNED IN JOHN 10:
"THE THIEF COMES ONLY TO STEAL AND KILL AND DESTROY."
WHILE SATAN POSES A VERY REAL THREAT TO US AND TO OUR
FAMILIES, WE NEED NOT DESPAIR.
WHEN WE READ THE REST OF THE VERSE,
WE SEE WHAT JESUS' PURPOSE IS.
HE SAID, "I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE
AND HAVE IT TO THE FULL."
THE NEW TESTAMENT ASSURES US THAT WHEN WE DRAW NEAR TO GOD,
HE DRAWS NEAR TO US.
AND WHEN WE RESIST THE DEVIL, HE FLEES FROM US.
THAT'S BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT GOD IS MUCH MORE POWERFUL AND
THAT HE LOVES TO PROTECT THOSE WHO FOLLOW HIM.
SO MY ADVICE IS TO MOVE TOWARD GOD, FOCUS ON HIM,
AND YOU WON'T HAVE TO THINK MUCH ABOUT THE DEVIL.