When people think of the devil, they often have a figure in their mind that is eternally opposed to God, with the power to devastate and destroy those who love God. In the media, the devil is often pictured as either a character in a red suit with pointy ears, a pointy tail, and pitchfork; or a smooth-talking, sharp-dressed character in an Armani suit. In both cases, the characters are very obviously evil in their words and deeds.
Do I believe in ”the devil”? If you mean the scary-looking guy in the red suit with a pitchfork, then the answer is “no”. Instead, I believe in many small “devils” in our world, which are much more insidious and dangerous than one “devil” could ever be. These devils are around us to subtly tempt us, telling is the very things we most desire and want to hear.
In the Bible, what we think of as “the devil” goes by various names – Satan, the devil, the adversary, and the serpent. In each case, the entity is opposed to God and God’s agents. We see Satan tempting Jesus in the wilderness, trying to get him to look out for himself and turn away from God’s mission of salvation for the world. In the Garden of Eden, the serpent tempts Adam and Eve to turn their backs on God and become like God themselves. In each case, temptation is the tool that the Adversary to God uses. One only needs to look around us in the world to see that temptation has been, and always will be, around us. If temptation is present, there will be “devils” who attempt to lead us away from God.
I have just returned from a week at confirmation camp. While there, the campers were cut off from the internet, with no access to media, computers, phones, and most technology. Even the adults leaders had greatly reduced access to technology, which I can say was difficult at times. Evidenced by the fact that I couldn’t write this blog until the end of the week.
At the same time, there was a sense of freedom from being away from most emails, phone calls, TV shows, and computers with their websites and even blogs. I took time to walk in the woods with Nathaniel (my son) watching deer and hunting for turtles, talking with good friends, and listening for God. It is not that technology is evil. Tehnology is a tool that can be used for good as well as evil purposes. However, there are many times those who would turn us away from God use technology to draw us away from our ultimate source of hope, healing, and love. When we use the media and technology around us, it gives us unlimited access to both the good, and the evil, in the world.
Do I believe in devils? Yes, I do. They are all around us and they draw us away from God. The Bible talks about powers and evil forces that are arrayed against us, that draw us away from God, and that seek to drive a wedge between us and God. Jesus regularly cast out demons and evil spirits. Those evil spirits did not go away with Jesus death and resurrection. I believe they are still alive and well, working to subvert God’s people. Maybe they work in more subtle ways, but they are still around. The very fact that they work so subtly is perhaps the greatest - they are all around us tempting us with some of the greatest things we love and depend upon – replacing God with things of our own creation.
Devils are certainly real, but so is God, and God is the one who has the greater power. In Romans, St. Paul says,
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
While there are certainly thing in creation that oppose God, God is the ultimate victor. Jesus has defeated death and the devil or all time. While devils are all around us to tempt us, they can never completely separate us from God. Good is good, all the time, and all the time, God is good.
