“I got word the other day that a former neighbor back in our old town passed away,” Stan commented one morning.
“Was he a believer?” I asked.
“It was a ‘she,’” Stan replied, “and I don’t know for sure if she ever came to faith. However, I do remember something she said once that made me think she had a long way to go to know the truth.”
“What was going on?” I asked.
“It was shortly after I became a Christian,” Stan said. “I was talking to her and telling her about the new church we were a part of, how much we were enjoying it, and things like that.”
“I was new to the faith,” he continued, “and I was not well enough equipped to have a response to something she said. I didn’t have a good answer then, but many times I have wished I had the opportunity again.”
“What did she say to you?”
“What she said,” Stan responded, “was something like, ‘You know there are some people who even believe that Satan exists’.”
“That Satan exists?” I said. “Isn’t that a given?”
“Not for everyone,” Stan said, “and I can tell you as a fact that if Satan can get a person to think he doesn’t exist, he’s smiling big time.”
“I can imagine that’s true,” I responded. “Just like in any warfare, if a person doesn’t recognize the fact that an enemy exists, there’s little chance of being prepared for the battle, and if the enemy convinces those he’s going to attack that he doesn’t exist, he’s made giant strides toward winning the battle.”
“You’re right about that,” Stan said. “And I think we’re clearly in the middle of a battle. I know that for me to be prepared for the spiritual warfare I encounter each day, I have to be guided by the Holy Spirit in being able to see and to recognize the enemy. “
“And, of course,” he continued, “the first step in being guided by the Holy Spirit is to surrender to His leadership by getting myself out of His way. Then comes the part about following His leadership in dealing with the enemy as He intends, not as I intend apart from Him.”
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Bible verses to consider:
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12.
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4.
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world. John 16:33.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your provision of the cross of Christ and His victory that is available to all who believe. Thank you for those who brought me to the truth, and the truth to me, so I could accept it and know I will spend eternity in your presence when it’s time. I confess that too often I do not tell others about the truth of the gospel so they can take off the blinders of Satan and know and be freed by the truth. Please forgive me for not helping others in the way I was helped by the people you sent into my life. And please help me follow every step of your lead so I do, in fact, present the truth of the gospel to everyone you bring before me so they have the same opportunity I was given to overcome the blindness and ignorance caused by Satan. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you overcome your blindness so you have accepted the truth of God’s eternal provision and know you will be with Him forever when it is time? If no, why? Do you really want to remain blind to the truth so that you will spend eternity separated from God? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing in helping others to overcome their blindness and be able to see the truth? If you sense the need for change, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 