What Satan Doesn't Want You to Know, Part III

PART III of IV ~

Early in the first chapter of his first letter, the Apostle Peter writes that we will be tried by Satan. But Peter also tells us to rejoice! Rejoice in these trials! But why? Peter had a very good reason for writing such. Pay close attention to what I’m about to say. In all his efforts, Satan achieves the very opposite of what he tries. Instead of tearing us down, Satan is actually giving us opportunity to strengthen our faith. He is in reality harming himself by growing our character in Christ instead of breaking it down.

See how Satan still hasn’t learned a thing, over two thousand years? He is still so obsessed with getting revenge at God that he fails to look ahead. Satan attacks us, trying to bring us down. But he is only giving us another opportunity to strengthen and temper and refine our faith. We cannot grow unless there are trials, and Satan will most willingly provide those for us, blinded by his hatred.

Satan tries so hard to make us forget how weak he really is. He tries to present himself as a formidable, intimidating foe, with millions of demons at his command. Though he may be such for the unbeliever, Satan looses sight of the even larger, heavenly army laying ambush to his own. He is still the arrogant, crafty devil he was from the beginning. He knows that if he presents a big enough figure, we will get frightened and back down. I’m reminded of the scene in Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, toward the end when Sam is climbing the stairs of the tower where Frodo is held captive. There are the three orcs coming down when they see a big shadow on the wall and hear loud noises. Then little Sam comes around the corner, half their size. The same goes for Satan. He knows he’s a little half-pint, but can put on a good show to make us think otherwise. The difference between Sam and Satan is that Sam, when faced with opposition, attacked. Satan, when we resist him, will turn and run away in fright. We need to stand firm, knowing that when the smoke clears there’s nothing there that Jesus can’t handle with a single word: depart.