Satan Isn't Funny!

Gustave Doré, Depiction of Satan, the antagonist of John Milton's Paradise Lost c. 1866 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Satan has acquired quite a reputation as the funny guy in the red suit over the years. There have been many depictions of him as troublemaker and adversary in literature, opera, films, and plays. Usually he comes off as the character of comic relief. We laugh at him and feel superior when the hero or heroine, as the case may be, proves victorious and sends him packing.

The sad fact is we are the ones who are deceived. C. S. Lewis wrote The Screwtape Letters in which he gave real life examples of how Satan's deception invades our senses and destroys our peace. The Bible is full of warnings of Satan's plots against all of mankind. We need to take these warnings seriously because they hold eternal impact. 

Get Behind Me Satan (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Job 1:6-8 is a scene of theatrical dimensions. Satan came with the Angels to present themselves before God. Satan couldn't resist a little bragging--he had been roaming the earth, perhaps seeking someone to attack. God cited Job as a man who was faithful and honorable, but Satan wanted to destroy this one who would be God's example of a man of faith and honor.

This example of how Satan works reminds us that when we are doing well and engaged in God's favor, Satan is waiting to attack and destroy our peace and faith. In Job's case Satan attacked, first, his wealth, his children, and then his body. We must not make the mistake of dismissing Satan as a humorous comic character. He is a spiritual being capable of speaking to the mind and heart to destroy, to steal, to kill all that is righteous and Godly.

Satan Is Real (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We have defenses that will protect us, but we must be aware that Satan has power and knowledge capable of weakening us so that we may suffer loss. If we sense Satan's attack, we have the Lord to help us in the battle, and never doubt that we are in a battle. And it is not a comic opera--our lives are the prize.