Satan afflicts believers.  Don’t underestimate him.  He’s not an imp in red tights with a pitchfork.  But don’t give him more credit than he’s due.  Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:7 said, “A messenger of Satan was given me to afflict me.”  And as the above passage shows, Satan was behind Jobs’ suffering.  The enemy can afflict us physically.  He tempts us to sin.  But his greatest weapons are his fiery darts – his lies about God that he launches against our faith.  We are in a serious conflict with the powers of darkness. 

 

Sometimes I hear Christians talk as if Satan were all-powerful.  Yes, he has power; but he is not all-powerful.  He is the god of this world.  Unbelievers are significantly under his power, though they don’t realize it.  He has blinded their eyes. But once Jesus opens our eyes to His glory and saves us, we come under His ownership.  We’re no longer slaves of Satan.  We’re new creations in Christ and share His victory over the enemy that He won on the cross. 

 

Lots of people seem to think the devil is the equal and opposite of God, like the dark side of “The Force.”  But Satan is a created being.  God is infinite.  Satan is less than a speck compared to the Infinite One.  If anything, Satan might be compared to Michael the Archangel, another created being.  But God is infinitely exalted over His creation.  The most glorious Seraphim in heaven are closer to a caterpillar in their being than they are to God. 

 

So remember you have an enemy; but fix your gaze on Jesus, King of kings and Lord of lords.