How to understand the literal and figurative Interpretation of the devil
Scripture reading: Matthew 4:1-11. Text: “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the DEVIL. Mathew 4:11, and: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the EVIL ONE.” Other translations say: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from EVIL.” Matthew 6:13. When the topic is so sensitive like DEVIL – EVIL,_then it is hard to be precise and exact. If you think differently about the devil and evil, you are entitled your opnion, and for further information please talk to your pastor. When we speak about Satan, devil, tempter, accuser, demons, evil spirits, it is difficult to define the sharp line between facts and fiction. If you saw the movies: EXORCIST and OMEN, then you know what I mean. Artists’ imaginations about Lucifer and hell do not depict reality.
LIFE IS NOT AS SIMPLE AS YES OR NO, PITCH-BLACK OR SNOW-WHITE, ICE-COLD OR RED-HOT.
We know the correlation between cause and effect, but is the line between them short and straight? Can we make these four steps consecutively: suffering – sin – evil – devil? Is the devil behind everything that is bad, hurting, and destructive? Am I responsible for my sin, or it was Satan’s influence? Please read Romans 7:17.
The three basic approaches and you should decide who is wrong?
– The LIBERALS_ say: devil, Satan, demons, evil spirits do not exist, they are simply the personification of evil.
– The FUNDAMENTALISTS say: everything is true word by word as the Bible says. For them the evil is the vicious work of the Satan and/or devil. Do you remember this book? Hal Lindsey: Satan Is Alive And Well On Planet Earth. Copyright 1972.
– The INTELLECTUAL, inquisitive, and speculative people ask: why did God create Satan, why doesn’t God destroy or control it, why does the devil have such a power over us?
In the Bible, we find references for both. Please see when the devil is the personification of evil: the serpent in the Garden of Eden, Genesis 3:1-4, when Christ called Peter Satan, Matthew 16:23, and when Satan entered Judas, John 13:27. On the other hand, the Holy Scriptures present the devil as a real entity (person), see our scripture reading.
Jesus made this statement: “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” Luke 10:18.
Obviously, such a Satan that has hooves, horns, tail, is covered with hair, and uses a pitchfork to torture condemned people in boiling kettles in hell, does not exist.
WHAT ARE THE REAL AND PRACTICAL TEACHINGS ABOUT EVIL CONCERNING OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE?
We should be sure that the _DIVINE POWER IS MUCH STRONGER_ than all of the craftiness of the devil or evil. Apostle James wrote: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7. Also Ephesians 4:26-27 and 6:11.
God cannot protect us against the devil and evil if we do not do our part to resist Satan. The best weapons of the devil are temptation and our weakness. Not huge muscles, educated mind, accumulated wealth, and legal rights are the best protection against temptation, but strong faith, high moral standards, and clear conscience.
We should use medicine as an example. Patients do not know which company made it, what is its chemical formula, how it works in our body, they are interested only in its healing effect. Likewise, we should not search for the origin of the devil, what kind of bait it uses, when does it tempt us, only to conquer its schemes. And we have a helper: “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” 1 John 3:8.
The Devil’s beatitudes. Quoted from an unknown source.
– Blessed are those who are too tired, busy, or distracted to spend time with fellow Christians in the church, for they are my best candidates to backslide.
– Blessed are who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked, for they slow things down.
– Blessed are who are touchy and picky, for they may make others quit church.
– Blessed are the very religious, who know everything better, and get on others’ nerves, for they may become stumbling blocks.
– Blessed are those who have no time to pray, for they are easy prey for me.
– Blessed are complainers, for they may discourage others.
– Blessed are those who demand to be satisfied, for they will be disappointed sooner or later and will find faults with others.
– Blessed are those who think that only others can become victims to temptation.
The Rev. Alexander Jalso is a retired United Presbyterian minister living in Brownsville.