November 15
“He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8.
In these words written by the apostle John, the Lord is giving us another warning about the devil, and He gives us another assurance that the Son of God has conquered the devil.
Beware of the father of lies! The devil, that old Serpent who is also called Satan and Beelzebub, loves to sin, and he loves to persuade people to sin. One of the church fathers wrote that the lamb does not follow the wolf, the hen does not follow the fox, and the rabbit does not follow the dog; so why does anyone want to listen to and follow the devil?
John writes, “He who sins is of the devil.” He is in the service of the devil, and belongs to the devil’s family. John is writing of the person who willfully, intentionally, persistently, and stubbornly commits sins against all better knowledge and understanding. He refuses to listen to the voice of God, and his eyes have been blinded by the father of lies.
The story is told of an artist who painted a huge, beautiful, elaborate, and impressive church. On the church lawn, he drew a picture of the devil sleeping! Beneath the painting was written that most of the people in the church were spiritually asleep, and they were serving the devil. Hence, the devil could sleep also.
Opposite that huge, beautiful church, the artist painted a little old shack, and on the lawn covered with weeds and thistles, he drew a little old devil ferociously jumping up and down. Beneath the picture was written that inside that little old shack was a little old man on his knees praying. That upset the devil tremendously!
John says that, “The devil has sinned from the beginning.” In Scripture, we are not told how long the perfect world existed, which God had created perfect and holy. However, John gives the impression that it was not for long. Furthermore, Scripture does not tell us what the sin was that the devils committed. Some of the church fathers said that the first sin was pride. The devils wanted to be like God. That may or may not have been the case. Scripture does tell us that the devils, or the evil angels, are forever rejected by God. The apostle Peter wrote, “God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment,” 2 Peter 2:4.
God gives us this assurance through the words of John: “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” Jesus conquered the devil’s power when the devil tempted Him. He conquered the devil as He wrestled in prayer with the heavenly Father in the Garden of Gethsemane on Maundy Thursday evening. The devil cannot successfully accuse us, and we can overcome his temptations with the Word of God. James wrote, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you,” James 4:7.
In faith, cling to Christ as the Son of God and your only Savior from sin, death, and the power of the devil. The apostle Paul wrote in his Epistle to the Ephesians, “(Take) the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one,” Ephesians 6:16.
“Rise, my soul, to watch and pray, From thy sleep awaken;
Be not by the evil day Unawares o’ertaken.
For the Foe, well we know, Oft his harvest reapeth,
While the Christian sleepeth.
Watch against the devil’s snares, Lest asleep he find thee;
For indeed no pains he spares, To deceive and blind thee.
Satan’s prey oft are they Who secure are sleeping,
And no watch are keeping.”
Lord, keep us spiritually awake. Amen.