The Devil In Blue Jeans

We have an enemy. For those of us who are Christians, when we joined the body of believers, we inherited an enemy with it. It comes with the territory. Become a Christian and now you’ve joined a war. An unseen war, but real all the same. God warns us throughout scripture of the enemy, and what to do to protect ourselves.

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:11-12

The devil doesn’t come at us, red, with horns on his head, holding a pitchfork. He’s not ugly, or rude. He’s deceptive, cunning, brilliant at what he does. He’s seductive. He will send someone into our lives that tells us all the right things. They will stroke our egos. They will compliment us. They will give us gifts. They will tell you: how wonderful we are, how beautiful/handsome we are, how smart/sexy we are… and the list goes on and on. But like the wiles of a seductress, they will bring us down, ruin our testimony, cause us to disobey God.

And there in lies the clue, that something smells rotten in Denmark. When you, believer, find yourself doing or saying things you aren’t supposed to, double check who’s around you. Is there someone in your life that seems to be saying all the right things, but you are starting to compromise your faith? A little sin here and a little sin there. If there is, you’ve found the mole sent in by the enemy. The only solution, is to cut that person completely out of your life.

Israel was told the very same thing. When they arrived in the promised land, they were to exterminate the people around them, completely. Why? Because God is a heartless, cruel homicidal maniac? No! Because God needed Israel to be pure, and these pagan people would ruin Israel, and cause her to go after other gods. These people had hundreds of years to repent, but they never did. And God’s solution for them, was to cut them off completely.

It’s the only way.

I’ve had to have this conversation with my kids recently. They are young adults, and need to be prepared for the world in which they live. I told them to recognize the signs. Be wary of the people who flatter you. Be wary of people of the opposite sex, who just want to be your friend. I told my son, girls don’t want boys as friends. They want boyfriends. They may say they only want to be friends, but that’s really not the truth. That’s their way into your life. Be on your guard.

God wouldn’t have mentioned it, if we didn’t need to be warned. But He mentions it over and over in scripture about our enemy. The Christian must be so very careful, where they walk and who they associate with. We must stay awake. God tells us this over and over.

It’s not hopeless. God never says it’s hopeless. He just warns us to be awake and be prepared.

He says it’s as easy as resisting the devil.

“Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

So, Christian, God just asks us to stay awake and be aware. Know you have an enemy. And know the enemy is not coming at you, ugly and twisted. He was the angel of light. I think of this country song, “The Devil in Blue Jeans.” That’s how he’s going to come into your life: looking good and saying all the right things. Just stay awake, so you can recognize him when he shows up. Because he will show up.