"We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one" (1 John 5:19).
This is a reality that is easy to see. Just look around. The residue of the evil one, Satan, the Devil, Lucifer, the Father of Lies, the Great Confuser, is all around. Even if we were to look past the current trending events of the world like war and governments that try to control, the evil one has had his fingerprints all over the creation since Adam and Eve took the first bite.
Yesterday while the children watched an animated story about Job in our house, I was reminded about the evil one's activities. As he appeared in front of God before he caused any havoc in Job's life, God asked him,
"from where have you come?" Satan answered the Lord and said, "from going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it" (Job 1:8).
Earth is his place. It's where he does his work of confusion and temptation. And, he has been given the right to be there by God himself. Further evidence of this "dominion" over the earth is seen in his temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. Luke records this account and writes,
And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, "To you I will give all this authoriity and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will" (Luke 4:5-6).
The whole world does lie in the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19), which seems pretty bleak, but John points to the hope that we have as those who believe that Jesus Christ came to save us from the evil one. John says its this way:
"Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who beleives that Jesus Chrsit is the Son of God" (1 John 5:5).
How can we overcome the evil one who is walking up, down, and around the earth (Job 1:8)? Belief in a moment, and belief that continues until the day we receive "the promise that he made to us-- eternal life" (1 John 2:25).
If you have any questions about this or want to know more about what it means to believe and be in a relationship with Jesus, email me here.
Pastor Walt
Philemon 6
