September 14 – God vs. the Evil One (1 John 5:18-20)

“The whole world is under the control of the evil one.”
(1 John 5:19)

IN WORD:
Perhaps we thought that our friendship with the world was a neutral relationship. Perhaps we thought that as long as we defer to God in most things, we are essentially free to pursue anything else our heart desires. Perhaps we thought only the really rebellious sins were sinful. But we are unwise if that’s what we thought.
When we take in the philosophies of our world — the strategies of its false systems, the spirit of its idolatries, the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness first before God — we have taken in poison. It’s the enemy’s lie that convinces us that all is neutral and that God doesn’t care where our affections drive us. The whole world — all of its values, all of its humanistic endeavors, all of its ideologies — is permeated by the spirit of the evil one. He has his hand in everything on this planet. Even the church can be his playground — if we entertain him there.
The Christian life is a separated life. Why? Because there is an evil personality in this world designing his plans to undermine the true worship of God. We can recognize this evil schemer if we’re wise and discerning, but it requires the utmost diligence to do so. We must look with insight into our activities, and we must dive into the depths of our own hearts. We must ask the Spirit to reveal our self-deceptions. Otherwise, we end up aiding and abetting the enemy of the Most High God.

IN DEED:
The earth is a battleground between the Eternal One and His enemy. This enemy respects no rules of engagement and abides by no morals or obligations. And we strike up a friendship with him casually and often. We don’t mean to — we’re only doing what seems acceptable to our culture and our conscience. But culture and conscience are unreliable, and God calls us to find ourselves entirely in Him. We must drink the cup of His holiness, eat the bread of His Word, and spend all of our time with His Spirit. He is our only refuge behind enemy lines.

“It is so stupid of modern civilization to have given up belief in the devil when he is the only explanation of it.”
-Ronald Knox-