IN THIS WORLD .........

“In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

In the world we live in, no one is exempted from trials, temptations and troubles of all sorts and from all angles. The reason is that Satan, the trouble-shooter, rules the world. It is his kingdom. The Bible describes him as our enemy who is prowling around the earth like a lion seeking for what to devour. (1 Peter 3:8)

He is wicked and merciless, a deceiver who is specialised in making people lose favour with God, by luring them into disobedience through sin. He started in the Garden of Eden where he precipitated the fall of Adam and Eve – the fall of humanity from its privileged position of enjoying close ties with God, the Creator.

Ever since, the world is ridden with myriad problems, wicked and sinister deeds: killings, murder, thefts, betrayals, corruption and all kinds of mischief. How often do we hear people grumble about the problems of this world which always seem to overwhelm them? Every facet in life is an uphill task, an ordeal. Nothing comes easy, with never-ending problems strewn on the way. That is characteristic of the world we are living in. When God created the world, it was for our enjoyment, our pleasure. Everything in it was good. Not until the devil corrupted the minds of the couple that manned the Garden, did our problems begin. Prior to this, everything was hassle-free and blissful to say the least.

Our Lord Jesus says we should take heart; we should not be discouraged or lose hope for He has conquered the world. How could He have said that when we are still witnesses to the works of Satan you may ask?

Mark you, Satan is a defeated foe who has no authority over you, God’s creation. Jesus, prior to departing this world empowered His disciples by telling them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20) 

Satan has no power over you or me except we let him. We are covered by the blood of Jesus and Satan is scared of that blood. In the Book of Revelations we read: “They overcame him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb (Jesus) and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” (Revelation 12:11)

In Egypt, as the Children of Israel prepared for their journey to the Promised Land, we see a representation of the blood of Jesus. All those, Hebrew or foreigner alike, who had smeared the blood of the sacrificial lamb they had slaughtered on their doorposts were spared the death of their firstborn sons.

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, has taken care of our protection, security and safety, shielding us from the so-called lion prowling in our neighbourhoods for He is a greater lion--“The Lion of the Tribe of Judah.” (Revelation 5:5) At the cross, He proclaimed: “It is finished!” This meant that he had knocked Satan out with his semblance of power.

Every true professing Christian is not afraid of the devil. Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we shall fear no evil, because the Lord Himself is with us. His rod and His staff will comfort us. (Psalm 23:4) When in danger, call upon the One who defeated sin and death—the Almighty and the Conquering Lion; HE ALONE can handle the evil one on your behalf because “The reason He appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” (1 John 3:8b) He took captivity captive. “He went about doing good, liberating those who were oppressed of the devil and went about healing the sick.”  All of Satan’s wickedness was reversed by Jesus when He hung on the cross.

Jesus is real and though He has ascended into heaven, He is still alive today. Just call on His name: “His name is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and they are safe.”  (Proverbs 18:10)

You would not want to put your life in the hands of amateur security services for the safety of your family, would you? Jesus came to save: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19:10) What was lost to whom? to the devil of course. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10: 13) For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” (Romans 10;10)

Start calling on the name of the Lord whatever the occasion, whether in crisis or in difficulty, He hears everyone and “Anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.” (Romans 10:12) You have tried everything else, it is time to try Him. He has promised He will never fail.