Christians: Know Your Priorities!

By David Ettinger

Satan Firing on All Cylinders
The world scoffs at the notion of Satan, which is exactly the way he wants it. Believers, however, understand that Satan is real, active, and nearing the top of his game.

Once the most beautiful of God’s created beings, Satan sought to usurp God, and was cast out of Heaven (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-19), but not permanently. Job 1:6 and 2:1 make clear that Satan still has access to God’s throne, and Revelation 12:10 tells us that Satan is “the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night.” Satan “has God’s ear,” doing everything he can to destroy believers.

Meanwhile, here on Earth, Satan’s goal is to bring death, both physical and spiritual. Hebrews 12:4 tells us that Satan “holds the power of death.” John 8:44 says, “He was a murderer from the beginning.” Daily headlines bear this out!

But Satan’s time is running out. At the end of the age, Revelation 12:7-9 tells us that Satan and his fallen angels will wage war with the archangel Michael and his angelic armies in Heaven, will be defeated, and be cast permanently to Earth. When that happens, we are warned, “But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short” (Revelation 12:12).

This climactic event signaling Satan’s destruction has not yet occurred, but is drawing near. In preparation, he has ramped up his destructive ways and is firing on all cylinders. Satan is waging war against God’s people and the world God so loves (John 3:16) as never before, his ultimate goal to prevent God’s end-times scenario (culminating with the return of Christ) from occurring.

Christians must be on their most diligent guard!

The Fight is Spiritual
It is election season here in the U.S. and our minds are politically geared, but we must remember that as far as Satan is concerned, politics serve as a great distraction. When Christians focus on the things of this world, it keeps us from recognizing the spiritual battle being waged all around us. Ephesians 6:12 clearly states: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Always remember, the most important battle you will ever engage in is that for the souls of men and women. There is nothing more crucial. Believers must fight Satan spiritually, our foremost weapon being prayer. We must pray that from the ashes of death, salvation of souls will arise.

Don’t let earthly distractions impede your spiritual duties!

Get Your Priorities Straight
Never forget, Satan is the “prince of this world” (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11) and the author of evil. In 1 John 5:19 we learn “that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” He is the one we are “up against” – not the “other” party’s candidate.

Even if our politicians could lead us to an earthly utopia, what good is “world peace” without salvation in Christ? What if from this day forward all war and violence is banished, but not the curse wrought on humanity from the Fall in the Garden of Eden? In such a scenario, all that would have been accomplished is making humanity’s path to eternal damnation much more comfortable. What good is peace on Earth if eternity in Hell follows?

The Christian’s priority must always be the salvation of souls; in the end, this is all that matters.

It Will Only Get Worse
Satan is nearing the peak of his agenda, and the havoc he will wreak on Earth is like nothing humanity has ever witnessed. We must recognize that government can’t save us; this era of human history will end just as God has ordained. A new world is coming and it will be glorious.

Until then, however, we fight the spiritual battle with prayer and strive to communicate the Gospel – that Christ is the only way to salvation from eternal damnation. Let us who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb know our priorities in these most distracting of days, and let’s never forget that Jesus Christ is the only “remedy” for our sin-afflicted world!

Tagged: Beware of Satan, Christian Distractions, Satan is Real, Share the Gospel, Sharing Christ, Spiritual Warfare

Posted in: Application, Bible study, Bible teaching, Christian Behavior, Christian Ethics, Christianity, Commentary, Culture, Current Events, Dedication to Christ, Devotional, Editorial/Blog, New Testament, Old Testament, Politics, Satan, Sharing the Gospel, Sin, theology