The Bogeyman


Originally Sent: 9/29/2008
by Johannes G. Weiss
  
                                                      The Bogeyman
 
        Webster’s Dictionary defines “bogeyman” as an imaginary monstrous figure to threatening children.
I am using this word, because many people seem to see Satan as the bogeyman who threatens God's children. For sure however, he is real and the Bible shows us that he wants to do us harm [1 Peter 5:8].
The Bible also shows us that there is no need for God's children to have a fear for Satan. We need to know our enemy but not fear him.
        In Luke 12:4 Jesus is telling us rather to fear Him, who after He kills has the power to cast into Hell.
And of course He is talking about our Father God, whom we should fear. If you have fear for the devil you should take a good look at some Bible verses.
        The first one is short and somewhat hidden and therefore seems insignificant. But it is of great importance! John 14:30: "The Prince of this world is coming and has nothing in me."
Here Jesus is dismissing concern for what Satan can do when he comes. "He has nothing in me."
God's secret revealed here is that when we are covered by the blood of Jesus, Satan has no ground to hinder us. This idea should give us encouragement. God's admonition is: "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness [Eph.5:11].
        Someone has said that you cannot prevent the devil to fly over your head. But you certainly can prevent him to make a nest in your hair!
        Then James 4:8 is God's instruction how to deal with the evil one. It should give us great comfort:
"DRAW NIGH UNTO GOD, RESIST THE DEVIL AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU." It seems to me that the evil one has absolutely no chance to bother us when we obey our Lord's instruction.
When the Bible shows occasions that the devil was bothering God's children, it always indicates that God had to allow it. There is an outstanding story about that in both the Old and New Testament. The book of Job shows clearly that the devil is in submission to our Father God. Jesus reveals in Luke 22:31 that Satan desired to sift Peter like wheat. Jesus prayed that Peter's faith would not fail and that in the end, it would strengthen the brethren. When our Father God allows Satan to bother us, He always works it out for our good! [Romans 8:28]
        Most of us confess to the absolute power of our God. And we believers in Jesus Christ are God's children. Therefore, should we not assume that our powerful heavenly Father will protect us from the evil one? There is no need to worry about attacks from bogeyman!
        The Bible expresses our need to have confidence in our loving Heavenly Father several times.
Romans 8:31 states; "What shall we say then to these things, if God be for us, who can be against us?" Then continuing in verse 38 and 39, it is listing 10 occasions to point out that nothing can separate us from the Love of God.   Are you persuaded of that?
        For certain, it is not the bogeyman we should fear. We should focus our attention on ourselves. God and the Devil are not the only spiritual forces in the universe. God has created us also with a Spirit.
Watchman Nee with his book, "The Latent Power of the Soul," has opened my eyes to  the fact  that originally we had spiritual power for the good. But after the disobedience of Adam and Eve, this power went latent. However it can become active and working for the good through the Second Adam, Jesus Christ. When we get born again, all things become new and we get a new nature. Hallelujah!
        If we are tempted to sin, we should not conform to this world but be transformed by the renewing of our mind; then we will prove the good and acceptable and perfect will of God [Romans 12:2]. When we do fail sometimes we can only blame ourselves. Most of our temptations are coming from our own mind.
God mentions temptations as "common to man" [1Cor.10:13] and He is giving us the promise, that He will not suffer [allow] us to be tempted above that we are able to stand. But He will with the temptation also make a way of escape! This should comfort us a great deal.
        So if we fall for the temptation, it is entirely our own fault. But our loving Heavenly Father has an antidote for our guilt. Through Jesus our Lord, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" [1 John 1:9] God is so Good!  Amen.