The Adversary

The snake that appeared in the story of beginnings to tempt the Garden of Eden couple was cunning, subtle, and crafty.  It does not appear that Adam and Eve realized they were looking into the face of evil.  Of course, the power of evil has no problem in appearing as one thing while working in a way that is true to the nature of evil.  In the beginning evil does not always show itself for what it is.  It is a master in deceiving and enabling people to believe what they want to believe.   

And while there is no reason to spend our time looking for a devil behind every bush, it is also a foolish thing to live as if evil is not lurking in the shadows and sometimes in the sunlight all around us.  This is to say it is foolish to live as if evil is not a reality with which to contend.  I Peter 5:8 says, "Like a roaring lion, your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour."   And that oft quoted passage at the end of Ephesians make it clear that the power of evil is real and not something to take for granted.  Standing in the face of evil will require not just human strength, but every bit of benefit made available to us from God our Father.   

The real fool is not the one who acknowledges the power of evil, but the one who lives as if evil is not really a spiritual adversary seeking to undo everything God wants to do in our life as well as in the lives of those around us.  We will see its presence in our world, but that never means it has the upper hand.  No matter how evil expresses itself and no matter how much confusion and malice it brings to bear around us, we are called to live in its presence knowing we are not under its power, that it is a defeated foe, and that the resurrected power of Jesus Christ has prevailed against it and won the victory we can by faith claim for ourselves.