Satan Persists:

We Must Resist

by Kevin Rhodes

I am not sure why, but many people seem to believe that after they become Christians the devil will leave them alone. Nothing could be further from the truth. While your obedience to the gospel provides forgiveness of your past sins and makes you a Christian (Heb. 5:8-9; Acts 22:16), this is only the beginning of the battle. Satan is not going to throw in the towel just because you were baptized. That was just round one.

James addressed the problems temptation can cause in our lives, but he also pointed out that we can grow from the experience by gaining confidence in how to address those temptations and thereby mature spiritually (Jas. 1:2-4). Sometimes we can think we have stronger faith than we actually do simply because a particular temptation has yet to present itself. But if Satan thinks it might drive a wedge in our faith, he will try it (Jas. 1:9-11).

Satan will do anything he can to entice us to fall from the grace we have been allowed to enjoy (Gal. 5:4; Eph. 2:8-9). But knowing the blessings of salvation and the joys of Christianity, we should press ever forward in our quest to please the Savior who overcame all temptation (Heb. 4:15) and died to make these things possible.

   The best way to confront temptation is to busy ourselves with learning and doing God’s will. The more consumed we are with our Christianity the fewer opportunities we give Satan to attack our faith. As James wrote again, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you” (Jas. 4:7-8a).