The Lord's Prayer 15: Never Underestimate The Power Of Evil Series

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF EVIL

In his splendid book, The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis paints a picture of a senior devil instructing a young apprentice how to work effectively in the world.

He describes his greatest achievement as persuading the world that he does not exist.

Certainly popular images of the devil as a comic figure with horns and a pitchfork does not help us.

They reinforce a picture of evil that no contemporary person would want to take seriously.

We need to find contemporary ways of pointing to the reality of evil so that people are aware of the danger we all face.

The original Greek of the Lord's Prayer can be translated as though evil were an abstract concept, 'Deliver us from evil'--or it can be personalised to read, 'Deliver us from the Evil One'.

This is a helpful reminder that the most important thing is not whether or not we believe in a personal devil, but that we recognise the reality of evil and take it seriously.

In the closing years of the 20th century we have seen more than enough evidence to convince us of the reality of human evil and even today in the 21st century it doesn’t seem any better.

The mindless violence and hatred of race riots have horrified us.

Mass murder, ethnic cleansing, is an all-too-common occurrence.

We have seen horrific television pictures of those who have been massacred in Iraq, Rwanda and Kosovo, the war in Ukraine and Gaza.

Similarly we have heard frightening reports and seen many pictures reflecting the evils of civil war.

Then, on 11th September 2001, terrorism reached new depths of depravity and caused untold suffering and misery.

Hijacked passenger planes, complete with innocent travellers on board, were used to destroy the World Trade Centre towers in New York and to attack the Pentagon in Washington DC.

Rightly, people all over the world were appalled at this complete disregard for the sacredness of human life.

Although global in significance, evil is also found closer to home.

We all encounter situations of extreme selfishness, heartless insensitivity, cruelties even to little children, rampant dishonesty and mindless vandalism.

We do not have to travel to the other side of the world to see the reality and power of evil, for we experience it in our own communities and indeed our own lives.

Behind the lace curtains of suburban respectability, or the polite niceties of convention, havoc is wreaked in human lives by the selfishness, cruelty and greed that ride roughshod over the needs of others.

If ever you doubt the reality of evil, look around you!

The Bible sees evil as a spiritual force of cosmic proportions.

It is far more than the sum total of human wickedness, and seems to have a distinctive identity.

Dark forces of evil pervert and imprison so many human hopes and dreams, and it seem to follow an organised plan to undermine the very purposes of God.

Paul reminds us of the inadequacy of human resources alone to deal with such a powerful reality.

We should therefore:

Put on the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Therefore take up the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.

With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. EPHESIANS 6: 11-17

This is a picture of warfare, and if we are to win, we dare not underestimate the enemy.

Even Jesus, in His great high priestly prayer prays that the Father would keep his followers 'from the Evil One'.

There is no need to despair, however, for we are not alone.

God is on our side. His power is greater than that of the Evil One, and by His grace we can live the victorious Christian life.

St Paul said it all in his letter to the Romans, where Christians were suffering all types of persecution: ‘If God is for us, who can be against us?’

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?