Satan v. God: A Fair Fight?

Spirituality Column #36
July 17, 2007
Current! In Carmel (IN) newspaper

Satan v. God; A Fair Fight?
By Bob Walters

I believe Satan is real and that he fights for our hearts, minds and souls right along with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Is it a fair fight? It sure seems Satan expends less effort getting our attention than God.

Our desires of earthly life … wanting what’s pleasing, comfortable, safe … are exactly what Satan wants us to have … in exchange for eternal condemnation of our souls.

It sounds bad, I know, but is “eternal condemnation” real? Should we worry about it?” Christ’s promise of “eternal salvation” sounds better but we can’t see either one and “eternal” is such a long time someone will change their minds so why not just let it all hang out while we can, look out for Number One, be real and let me “get mine” while I’m here to get it?

Helpful hint: “Number One” isn’t me. It’s God … and He’s paying attention.

The Bible gives us God’s complete outline for building our relationship with Him, other people, and all creation. God, not Satan, gives us beauty and wonder and nature and love and (don’t miss this one) forgiveness. It takes faith and discipline to nurture our relationship with God through Christ, who promises to be our champion for all time.

“Letting it all hang out” on earth isn’t what God has in mind for us; worshipping Him is how he wants us to “get real.”

One critical thing to remember: God is a red-hot, jealous God. The Jews, His beloved and chosen people, found out time and again that God’s wrath is immense and perfect.

As a Christian, never forgetting Jesus was a Jew, I know that God’s wrath is coming again one of these days and reading those Old Testament prophecies makes me want to straighten up my act.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) knows eternity is a long time, and salvation is better than condemnation. I’m rooting for God.