"The devil is in control," a man said (or words to that effect).
"The devil only wins if you let him," we responded.
A couple of people at the table seemed to agree with our view. But let's take the comments in order. There's a bit of truth to that....
In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine to them. - II Corinthians 4:4 (KJV)
Who or what is this opposing God - trying to block the light of the gospel? None other than the original "prince of darkness" - Satan.
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved to judgment.... II Peter 2:4 (KJV)
Those angels were cast down from heaven with the devil, which was once a top-level angel called Lucifer (Isaiah 14). But even if Satan is a "god" over this world, that doesn't mean Satan has to be the god of your life:
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. - James 4:7
That may sound simplistic - but even veteran Christians know it's a constant challenge and fight. We need help....
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. - I John 4:4
The "one who is in you" needs to be Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit:
To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. - Colossians 1:27
Would you like to know how Christ can be in you? Leave a comment, and we'll be happy to help -- so the "good God" wins in the end.
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