Part III

That Satan is alive and well was very serous business to Christ's apostles. There is too much time spent in the New Testament giving us information and instruction for it to have been anything else. In 2 Corinthians, 4:4, Paul tells us:

"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine upon them."

Think about this verse the next time you talk to an athiest, agnostic or someone who has lost their faith. It will help you to understand and pray for them properly.

The very idea that something like a Satan can actually exist defies logic and intellectualization. For that matter, so does Christian belief in general. Therein lies the problem. We live in an age that wants answers and wants them now; an age that demands scientific evidence of any claim of any kind. If we can't see it, touch it, feel it, smell it or hear it, it doesn't exist. Sadly, we are being taught that we are masters of our own destinies; that faith in the supernatural is nothing less that weakness and superstition. So the church is changing to adapt to the times; changing to fix the needs of a changing world society that will flat-out reject blind acceptance of the supernatural. Rejection of faith, as it were. We all seem to need immediacy and tangibility. It's the way we are being conditioned.

Jesus Christ knew this would come to pass and so did His apostles. That's why Christ's teachings are repeated so often in the New Testament and why references to Satan are specific and not clothed in parable. Talk of Satan is always open, frank and to the point. Jesus knew how difficult it would be for us to believe in Satan in these times for He presented us with an extraordinary example of Satan's determination. For this, He chose Peter (Simon), arguably the most trusting, faithful and believing of the apostles. Satan wanted Peter very badly. It all unfolds in Luke 22: 31-32   "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethern."

Peter tells Jesus he would die for Him, his love was that great. But we know that Peter denied Him three times that same night. Jesus shows us, by example, the great strength of Satan and that He is the only refuge.

By allowing Satan to have Peter for a short time that night, He demonstrated that even the most faithful, the most believing, the most sincere can fall to Satan's demand. Peter was perfect for the lesson: if Peter could fall, what chance do you and I have? Yet the experience strengthened Peter and when he had "turned back" to Jesus he was the better for it.

Peter's experience should also strengthen every Christian.

End Part III