Parkstone

THE DEVIL – FACT OR FICTION?

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Archaeologists confirm that the earliest nations all believed in only one God. Gradually there crept in a belief that many supernatural forces were at work. This ultimately crystallised into a belief in a god of evil. The Babylonians and the Persians believed that there were gods of good and evil, one was a power of darkness and represented evil. The other was a power of light and represented goodness. The Jews were captives under both of these nations and God said, “ I am the LORD, and there is no other; I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the LORD do all these things. (Isaiah 45-7.) It was a brutally frank, basic truth. God had put Israel in captivity because of their sin. He was in control. Therefore there followed a ringing call, “ Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” (verse 22.) How could there be a supernatural power in opposition when God was omnipotent? God’s denial of such was absolute.

Is it not remarkable that there is no mention of a devil in the Old Testament, except to equate them with idols? Satan (adversary) is mentioned 4 times but the context has no idea of an alternative power to God. The ideas of devils and demons were picked up from surrounding nations when Israel was in captivity.

Truth however was altered out of all recognition, and confirmation of the prophet’s words came from the Lord Jesus, “From within, out of the heart of man, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornication, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these things come from within and defile a man.” (Mark 7, 21-23.) God, and His son, confirms that ALL sin is generated in us. There is no room for a supernatural tempter. From the beginning it has been so. “The imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.” (Genesis 8.21.) Questions must therefore be presented. When six million Jews perished in the holocaust was it brought about by a supernatural devil? Of course not! The Lord Jesus said specifically that murders come from the hearts of men. Who perpetrates the atrocities throughout the world? Men and Women. When someone is brutally assaulted, or bombers kill many in London, we acknowledge it is the result of the wickedness of mankind. The blame lies fairly and squarely with each one who carries out such vile deeds. A powerful devil is completely superfluous.

Self control is absolutely necessary if we are to restrain the evil that can surface in each of us. Even the great apostle Paul had to confess that when he wanted to do good, evil was present with him. (Romans 7,14-24.) He left for us a lurid picture of the disgusting morals of the first century Romans. Three times he emphasised that the result was because “God gave them up” to their own desires. (Romans 1, 24, 26,28.) It was God’s justice. He allowed man free will, but self was served and God forgotten. The same results are seen in the twenty first century too. Sexual dishonesty is rife. Marriage breakdown is commonplace. Prostitution and sodomy exists in many towns. Aids afflicts so many. Is all this caused by an outside influence, or should we say that civilised man should be able to control his passions? There is no room for a powerful devil, as we see the tendencies that exist in us all.

God will ultimately punish those who stifle His truth, but His blessing is for those who try their best to serve Him.( Romans 1, 16-18.) God is good, but man in his folly opposes that goodness, to his hurt. We may smile at people worshipping idols, and yet create our own, whether it be in the money in which we trust, the property we own, or the powers we possess. All cease to be at the moment of death, and only God can bring us from the grave.

Some find it harsh. Is it? Eternal life is offered for willing obedience. Sin has an immense pull, but once we see it as rebellion against the Creator we should stop in our tracks and see our folly. We no longer look to a mighty devil, for we realise that the word is a personification of the sin, which dwells in us. (See Hebrews 2-14 and 9.26 plus 1 John3: 5-7.) God is just. He does not allow any agent to torment us, and lead us astray. By one man sin entered the world, but by the splendid life led by our Saviour, we can come to eternal life in him. (Romans 5,12 and 19.) Jesus died rather than sin. He routed it decisively, and calls upon us to do the same.

Some, however are appalled at the enormity of sin today, and feel that they will fail in their efforts to do right. How can we fail with God to help us? How can we weaken when Christ endured so much that we might conquer these devilish tendencies? Take heart with the words of our apostle, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.

Romans 6 is a splendid chapter to conclude with, and the teaching superior to anything anyone can offer us. Paul concludes with the well-known words, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. “ We cannot earn life; it is a gracious gift from God. It only remains to ask, “Do we want to be a devil or a saint?