Skip to main content

Trash-talking The Devil

             Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord.  But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.

They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood!  They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness. (II Peter 2:10-16)

Getting back more clearly to the false teachers, in this passage Peter brings up an idea that bears some consideration. Some folks like to sing songs about the devil being put in his place, or to teach about telling the devil that he has no place here or there. I challenge you to check through Scripture for interactions between God and Satan (or other demons) and pattern your behavior after God’s.

But all the while false teachers are trash-talking at the devil, he’s sitting back and laughing because they are doing what he desires them to do- to be arrogant, bold, unafraid to do is not their right to do, carousing, committing adultery (in their minds if nowhere else), being greedy, leading others astray, and basically being his disciples.

I’m not recommending the movie “The Devil’s Apprentice” to you because it’s a disgusting film in some ways, but it portrays this idea wonderfully. A young lawyer gets hired by an older lawyer and finds himself tempted in many ways, often sexual. His wife is nearly driven mad by events. Eventually, when asked to do something professionally unethical, the young lawyer comes to his senses, says “No!” and quits. And he and the audience cheer - he’s beaten the devil. Hurrah! But has he? Or has he learned that he can “beat” the devil?

It's also like addictions. One never starts drinking to become a drunk. Those addicted often say they can stop any time they want. It’s all good - until it’s not. They’re strong, until they’re not. They can take that step closer to the edge, they won’t fall - until they do. Wisdom says to avoid temptation - not to play with it. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Saved?

  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:28-30) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ ” (Matthew 7:21-23) Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.” (Romans 3:4)   What conclusion do you draw when someone who was raised in a Christian family and church, perhaps even playing a significant role in a chur...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Virgin?

           Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)           This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18)           But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”            “How will this be,” Mary asked the...
Post a Comment
Read more

Meditations of the Heart

  May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm19:14)           As I started writing this post, I noted that the meditations of my heart are all over the mental landscape, from a hub where eight superhighways come together to a lunar or nuclear landscape. Do you see my error? The moment I read the word meditation , I think about thoughts. But what’s described here is the meditations of our hearts ; our wills.           While the meditations of our minds may be all over the place, the meditations of our wills tend to be a little more stable by the time we are adults. We no longer tend to want to pursue the ten separate careers we did in any given day as children. Part of this is humble acceptance of reality. We come to understand that we can’t do it all. I think another part of it is disappointmen...
Post a Comment
Read more