Some people say there is no devil, but I am convinced he is real. I have personal experiences with him that left no room for doubt. He is right here in this world. Like a lion he “goes about seeking whom he may devour.” What to do with him, is the biggest problem facing many Christians. They spend so much time thinking about the devil, fearing him, and trying to combat him — that they have little time for God. Their testimony is a testimony of the devil’s doings and their conflict with him. Religion is a negative thing. It consists in not doing and not being, not thinking and not feeling or in trying not to. They are working on the problem from the wrong end.
Life is for accomplishment and for character-building. Overcoming obstacles is not the main purpose of our lives. A great many people think they could accomplish great things and be wonderful Christians were it not for the devil. What to do with him is their problem. Here is what to do:
First, do not be afraid of him. “Greater is he who is in you, than he who is in the world.” If you believe that, you have no cause to fear the devil. God more than a match for your adversary. “If God is for us — then who can be against us?” Satan may oppose us, but he cannot prevail against us. Satan cannot touch you unless God permits; and if God permits him it will only be to give you the greater victory in the end. Do not fear the devil but trust God. Give your attention and strength to pleasing him. If you will keep busy doing this, you will not have much trouble with Satan.
Satan is like a lion — but when a lion roared against Samson, that man slew the beast with his naked hands because the Spirit of the Lord was upon him. Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den, but they did not eat him. God shut their mouths and they could not touch Daniel.
We are told to “resist him steadfast in the faith.” It is faith that counts. If you have faith, the devil will be more afraid of you than you are of him.
Second, do not run from him. A man from the East was once riding over a Western prairie when he saw an Indian walking along. While he was looking at the Indian, an angry bull suddenly charged the Indian. Instead of his running, as the Easterner expected him to do, the Indian simply faced the angry animal and stood his ground. It came charging down until it was almost upon him — then suddenly stopped, looked at him, and ran around him. As the animal bellowed and pawed and ran round, he did not move, and the animal did not touch him, but shortly went off and left him alone, after which the Indian went on his way as though nothing had happened.
There is a good lesson in that for us. There is no use to run from the devil, for he can run faster than we can. Our victory is often won by our standing still to see the salvation of God.
Third, watch. That is what our Lord commanded, but he did not say, “Watch the devil.” The thing that we need to watch most is where our own feet are going. If we allow ourselves to be occupied in watching Satan, we may get out of the path and not know it. The Bible also says, “looking unto Jesus” — not “looking unto Satan.” It is from God that our help comes. When we look at Satan, he appears great and terrible. When we look to God, we see his greatness and realize how much greater he is than Satan. Look to God and where your own feet are going — and let God manage the devil.
Fourth, ignore him. There is nothing Satan hates so much as to be ignored. For us to calmly go upon our way unafraid and trustful is not at all to his liking. If we will keep our hearts and minds occupied with good things and pay no attention to his threats — we shall find he will go off and leave us. He may soon return, but if you meet him in the same way, he will not linger around you as he will if he can hold your attention upon himself.
You have better use for your time, than to let the enemy occupy it. Use it in active service for God.
Jesus said he would give us “rest unto our souls.” Do you have that rest? God means for you to have it, but you cannot have it if you keep your attention on Satan all the time. While you are looking unto Jesus — you will not see the faces that Satan makes at you, and so will not be troubled. If you will listen to God — you will not have time to listen to Satan. If he is constantly troubling you — it is because you are giving him opportunity. He is a conquered foe. The victory is yours, if you will have it so.
Charles Wesley Naylor is considered one of the most prolific and inspiring songwriters of the Church of God. He was bedridden for much of his adult life but wrote eight books, a newspaper column and more than 150 songs. Many of his writings are in the public domain.
