I think it’s safe to say that at some point, we all have wondered if there is more to the world than what we can see. Every society seems to have stories of things that happen beyond explanation; ghosts are a common feature, but fairies, goblins, dæmons, djinn and plenty of other creatures have graced both our stories and our superstitions. To a certain extent, living in the West, we dismiss these stories out of hand, but to many people throughout time and space, these creatures are real and fearsome.
We could embark on a survey of cultural lore, or a deep-dive into the history of Christian interpretation of and reaction to these creatures, but the question still remains: do these creatures really exist, and how do they affect our lives?
The Evil Emperor
Here we may reign secure, and in my choyce
To reign is worth ambition though in Hell:
Better to reign in Hell, then serve in Heav’n.
(Paradise Lost, Book I Lines 261-263)
Without doing a deep-dive into the confusing, and often conflicting, accounts that people have proposed for the pre-Fall history, there are things that most Christians agree on. (1) There are spiritual beings, some of them good (angels) and some of them evil (demons). (2) The leader of the demons is the Devil and he has some great measure of power in this world. (3) There is a war that both sides are fighting in. (4) All humans, whether they know it or not, are a part of that war. Satan fights against God and all who stand for him. This has been the truth since Eden, and it still holds true today. Whether or not he reigns from Hell, the Devil most certainly does. In Ephesians Paul says that we fight against the rulers of this present darkness, and 1 John (5:19) tells that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. He uses this power to tempt the people of God to draw them away and destroy them.
Life in a war
During World War II, there was a concerted effort on the part of the Americans to involve every person in the country in the war effort. Young men would enlist to fight on the front lines and those who stayed behind fought on the home front. Which ones were actually fighting the war? In order to win we needed both. Wars can be fought in more than one way. Our brothers and sisters in Africa and East Asia deal with issues such as demonic harassment (nightmares, furniture moving, strange physical ailments, etc.) and possession much more than we do.
However, that does not mean that Satan is not active in America. One only has to look at the statistics on porn addictions, depression, anxiety and numerous other ailments in the church to see that the Devil is well and active here as well. Like a good general, he chooses the best weapon for a battle. There is not much point in using cannons in hand to hand combat, whereas they are essential for a siege. Our enemy is smart enough to know that in a world where the mere idea of the supernatural is instantly dismissible you need to find more indirect ways of working than simply moving furniture around a room. Christ himself said that we are living in a war, and however much we might wish otherwise, if we truly believe what the Bible says our deep-rooted naturalism needs to be altered.
Conclusion
We are in the midst of a war but we are living in the end times. On the cross Christ won, and the resurrection proved it. Christ reigns as king, not only in the future when he returns, but right now. The Devil might rule the world, but Jesus commands the universe. Satan might hold sway over humanity, but he can do nothing without God’s express consent. He still fights, but only because God allows him to. We are still attacked, and often fail in our battles with sin, but the victory is assured and always has been. Know that the Devil prowls around waiting to attack you, but He who is in you is stronger than he who is in the world. Recognize that you are under attack by one of the greatest of the creatures and pray for protection, but never forget that you are protected by the Creator. Christ sits on the throne. “His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure. One little word shall fell him.” (“A Mighty Fortress is Our God,” Martin Luther.)