Who The Devil Is That?

We have been experiencing an extremely hot and humid spell of weather. A fellow was interviewed last evening about the heat. He said, "I think I just passed the devil and he was smiling." Everyone laughed about his reference to it being so hot the devil was in residence.

NEWS FLASH: The devil (Satan) is living on earth and he is laughing.

Even some Christians view Satan and evil as a pseudo-intellectual story one would use to frighten little children into being good. He's the opposite of Santa or at the very most a parable. In reality, the Bible explains the devil/Satan in very explicit terms. No where does it say he does not currently reside on earth. No where does it say he does not currently practice evil. No where does it say he will not attack humans right here every day and in every way.

To believe Satan lives on earth, we must believe he is involved in every person's life. To believe he is involved in all our lives, we must believe he is in the work place. I know, most everyone who read the previous sentence will have a face flash before your eyes. No, I'm not talking about someone who is so hard to work with they must be Satan in the flesh. I'm talking about all the evil working in everyone's personal life. We all have it and you, supervisor, are managing a workforce that struggles with evil every day; you may struggle with evil in your personal thoughts every day.

I found a conference call to my Lord every morning prior to work helped keep me focused on His desire for my actions during the day. I would ask for a meeting with God anytime I felt Satan working the crowd. I would call a time-out when I needed to refresh myself during a particularly rough assault. God would listen to my silent prayers and pleas in the middle of a meeting. I had a visualization I used of Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, standing by my right shoulder. He had His hand on my shoulder: comforting, encouraging, supporting, educating, protecting, listening and most of all always being there. Pushed into bad situations, I would lay my hand on His for just a second. It wasn't that I saw God, it was that I physically and mentally focused on His presence in my life. I did it almost subconsciously and it so worked! I was grasping for His presence in my life and He was always there. That alone gave me the serenity to keep going.

As you encounter evil in your daily life, from attacks by Satan on yourself or others, keep God involved. Satan isn't some long forgotten story about ancient times, (I Chronicles 21:1 "And Satan stood up against Israel...") . Satan isn't a cartoon character or halloween costume, (Zechariah 3:1 "And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.") Satan isn't waiting to do his evil at end times, (Luke 22:31 "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.") Satan isn't covering himself with fire or have lightening come out of his fingertips (II Corinthians 11:3, 14-15 "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.")

Let the Lord's presence rest upon your shoulder, (II Corinthians 2:11 "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.") The Lord will be your way through the evil of Satan, (Ephesians 6:11 "Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.") It will take you into tomorrow and into your salvation, (Ephesians 6: 12-16 "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; And all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith, ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.")

Is it the devil? Oh, yes. But, then there is God!