Friday, February 23, 2018

Know Your Adversary

I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

—2 Corinthians 2:10–11

C.S. Lewis said, “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They are themselves equally pleased by both errors.”

During the Civil War, Union forces had developed a paranoia about General Robert E. Lee as though he were almost superhuman, able to do anything in spite of his small numbers. Exasperated, General Ulysses S. Grant told some of his staff, “I’m tired of hearing about Bobby Lee. You’d think he was going to do a double somersault and land in our rear. Quit thinking about what he’s going to do to you and think about what you’re going to do to him.”

We need to stop worrying about what the devil is doing and let him worry about what we will do next under the power and control of Jesus Christ.

We have a marked advantage in this spiritual battle we’re engaged in. We know that our adversary moves in relatively predictable patterns. He has been using the same tricks, the same gimmicks, and the same ploys for generation after generation.

If I engage in a competitive sport like racquetball or tennis, I try to size up my opponent. If I see he is weak in the back court, then guess where I will try to lob every one of my serves? The back court.

In the same way, we can look at our adversary and see that he has certain tactics he uses again and again. In most cases he tempts us in the realm of our minds, because he knows that a thought ultimately will lead to action. That is where we need to draw the line.