March 1, 2000
LIFE & WORK SERIES:
Why does Satan spend time attacking believers
___Revelation 12:1-17
___By Debra Hochgraber
___Women's Evangelism Consultant, BGCT, Dallas
___Although this chapter is well suited for a dialogue about historical, prophetic and present truth, I would like to consider why Satan expends so much energy attacking believers, enticing Christians to sin. Satan cannot have my soul. Why doesn't he just leaveme alone? We can see in Revelation 12 that "he is filled with fury," but since he knows "his time is short," why not focus on the souls he can still claim (vs. 12, 17)? Or maybe that is his focus.
___God gave us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). We are to share the message of God's grace with those who are being led astray by the evil one (Revelation 12:9). If we do not share this message, Satan claims victory.
___My father was in the military when he met my mother. They married, and upon his return to civilian life moved to his hometown. She became very aware that the financial success in his family involved much worldliness for profit. She was under constant attack to embrace ungodliness and walk away from her relationship with Christ. As her children were born, he had more leverage, but she had an even greater desire to stay close to the Lord. He flaunted his affairs with other women and often brought public humiliation upon her. Satan had to be furious with this young woman, standing in quiet defiance to his attacks, protecting her children through the power of prayer. My grandmother told me that my father repeatedly asked for a divorce. Mom did not see divorce as the appropriate choice until, when I was 12, her refusal was answered with "devil's schemes" that would impact her children directly (Ephesians 6:11).
___She had been in continual spiritual battle, but she overcame the attacker "by the blood of the Lamb" and by the word of her testimony (Revelation 12:11). Why would Satan aim so many attacks at one young woman? What difference could it make? She was already a Christian. But Satan could see that she was serious about her commitment to Christ. That kind of commitment allows others to see "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6).
___My brother, sister and I are Christians, as are the five children who call her Grandma Nancy. My sister and her husband are in youth ministry in Illinois. My brother served as a lay minister at various times of his military career and now is an active layman.
___As an adult, I spent an afternoon with my aunt. Her life was filled with the pain associated with her life choices. She asked me. "How did your mother separate herself and her children from this family?"
___"By the grace of God and the power of prayer. You can walk away, too." She tearfully responded, "I can't. Something here is holding me too tightly."
___Lord, may the words of my testimony incite the fury of the evil one and show people where to find the strength to walk away.
Send this story to a friend
Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!