“He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.” (John 8:44-45)
What image comes to mind when you think of the devil? For me, I conjure up the picture that I had from childhood of a dark red, two-legged man with a goatee on his chin and horns growing out of his head. I think it came from a Halloween costume I once saw.
Strangely, I find myself sometimes wondering if this or that is really Satan. Maybe it’s because I’m holding on to that childhood image that I have of the devil rather than recognize him for who and what he really is. Perhaps I should hold onto truth and remember what the Apostle Paul said the next time I get a little confused about the source of my problem: “For God is not the author of confusion.” (1 Corinthians 14:33)
My daughter suffered from anorexia in the late 1990’s. Anorexia, if you have ever lived with it as a parent, is a disease of deception. When my daughter looked into the mirror, she saw someone entirely different that the person I saw.
I’ve never experienced anything in my life that had a stronger grip on someone! It literally monopolized every aspect of her life. But I soon realized that I was dealing more with the deception than I was with the disease. And whenever deception is present, I’ve learned to look for the enemy.
I say all this because I believe there is also a spiritual side to what I saw going on in my daughter’s life. Don’t misunderstand me. She received the best treatment that the secular world had to offer and is now completely cured. But I also believed at the time that the devil was working overtime on my child, which means that any lasting solution had to recognize his presence, too.
Whenever disease or tragedy comes our way, it’s important to realize that everything evil that happens to us is not the result of a direct satanic attack. While I believe the enemy is always indirectly involved, I also know the some of what happens is probably more the result of life in a fallen world. In short, maybe some of the suffering that comes our way is self-induced. Whether the product of ignorance, unbelief, indifference, or a combination of all of them, we can never overlook the consequences of free will.
I also don’t believe that suffering is always the product of our own sin or indifference to the Lord. If that’s the case, then why did Job experience such vicious attacks on his life? Remember, the Bible described him as “blameless and upright”, one who “feared God and shunned evil”. (Job 1:1)
Here’s what Paul said we should do when the enemy attacks: Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:13-18)
I believe that God had a direct hand in my daughter’s cure. I believed then as I believe now: Her cure did not just come from a combination of therapy and medication. She was bathed in prayer, and I saw it at work in her life.
Isn’t it funny how we tend to use prayer as a weapon of last resort when the Bible suggests that it should be one of the first things we consider? Keep that principle in mind the next time a family crisis comes your way!