Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. - Luke 22:3
This short passage of Scripture is full of irony and also should put the fear of the Lord in our hearts. Judas was one of the twelve Apostles our Lord choose through prayer and fasting all night. It was a serious decision and the Lord was trusting the wisdom of the Father in Heaven for those who were to be his special followers. Judas followed Jesus just like the others and did special miracles and preached the Good News with boldness. Judas allowed greed to consume him, he at one point could not stand seeing an offering given to Jesus because he desired to steal the portion for himself (John 12:5-6). The Holy Scriptures call him a thief. How did such a good apostle end up with such a terrible end. His greed brought him to such a delusion that he agreed to sell Jesus the very Son of God for thirty silver coins. The value of those coins being only about 1 month of wages. The very author of life, the author of creation being betrayed for a few pieces of metal. At this point of deception he had opened the door of his heart enough that satan was able to come in.
This is a warning to us who confess the Lord Jesus and follow him in discipleship. That we also can be overcome by a sin and end up allowing the enemy a place in our hearts. It might not be something as dramatic as the end of Judas but we can be used of the enemy to cause havoc and hurt to the work of God. We need to consider daily: "the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). This is our enemy who sends demonic hosts to seek those who have opened the door through sin, pride, selfishness so that they can enter and cause hurt. Or rather the word of God says devour, he seeks to hurt not only you but those around you. But we can be encouraged that no matter how many terrible opportunities the enemy is afforded through even believers, the work of God will go forward. The devil thought he won when he entered Judas to betray Jesus. Yet that was actually accomplishing the greater purpose of God in the earth. And so it is today what the enemy uses for evil God will use for the good of the spread of His Good News. Amen.
