Bring it on!

“When you’re in the trenches, everyone is shooting with you. When you’re on the mountain, everyone is shooting at you.” – Jack Keylor

Jack was my boss and the terminal manager for one of my trucking jobs. Jack had a no-nonsense way with words. During this conversation he and I were discussing the merits of being the boss versus being just a driver and his philosophy was clear. Although he enjoyed being the one doling out the orders, such a position came with a price.

That’s a lot like life. We’ve probably all nodded in church when someone says, if you’re on Satan’s RADAR, then you’ve got to be doing something right. Spin it however you want, positive or negative, doing right means you risk being targeted by Satan himself or by his vast army of demons. Seriously, though, who in his/her right mind would WANT to be on Satan’s RADAR?

Let’s look at indisputable facts.

Satan is a fallen angel, the former Archangel and the Angel of Light, Lucifer.

Archangels are the most powerful beings in the universe next only to God himself. Of course, like humans and dogs angels are also created beings, a fact that restricts their power to that endowed by their creator – the Holy God.

Satan is the lord of this world. We established this in a previous blog entry. He is the deceiver, the destroyer, and he takes pleasure in usurping God’s authority and leading God’s sheep astray.

And when we, you and I, enter into this realm, we are battling against “principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Eph 6:12, KJV)

So I’ve been asked how I stand up to Satan, how I withstand his attacks, and how I can be confident that I’m going to survive the inevitable onslaught that comes with being targeted by Satan’s minions, with being on his RADAR. Well, that’s easy.

I can’t.

You read that right. I can’t. I can’t withstand the Deceiver. Satan, though fallen, is the dark Archangel of this world and to quote popular music, “I’m only human.” Lucifer commanded fully one-third of God’s holy army when he fell. When I go up against Satan, I crumple like a paper dragon under the weight of a truck. – Poof – flat. My faith fails, my strength fails, and my confidence in me fails miserably.

But that’s the kicker. I don’t withstand Satan. I do my best to follow Christ. “I” don’t battle against the wiles of Satan, against principalities and powers, against spirits and demons. I pray. I trust in God and He battles Lucifer. It’s not much of a battle for God – kind of like Wyle E. Coyote and the Roadrunner. Satan keeps scheming but doesn’t realize the ACME rocket is still a bomb strapped to his own back and I, as the Roadrunner, am whisked away on the speedy feet of angels to the chagrin of a charred wild dog. That’s the promise, that God will equip me for battle, will be my sword and shield, and will protect my back.

“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour 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; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Eph 6:13-18, KJV)

So if God wills it, bring it on, Deceiver. I am weak but He is strong!

And if God ever sees me worthy to stand alone, though he slay me, I will trust him. It wasn’t pretty, but it all worked out for Job.

(Knight photo courtesy of Pinterest)