“I’m my own worst enemy!” Have you ever said that? This may be an admirable statement of self-awareness—that we have, perhaps inadvertently, done things to hurt ourselves. That awareness can be good, because it might help us learn to avoid self-damaging behavior in the future.
But factually that statement is very, very wrong. You are not your own worst enemy. There is a powerful being who hates you and is tirelessly working to destroy you. He strives to prevent you from gaining the eternal life that God is offering you (John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 4:17–18; Titus 1:2).
The Apostle Paul warns the Ephesians not to “give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:27), then goes on to tell them what they are to do. In verse 28, he tells them they must do fruitful work. In verse 29, he warns them not to engage in unwholesome talk—rather, they should seek to edify others. Then he writes, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice” (v. 31). We need to take this to heart and act upon it.
Scripture shows us how quickly Satan can gain mastery over us if we let down our guard. Christ publicly gave Peter high praise, saying, “Blessed are you Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 16:17). But when Christ began to plainly teach His disciples about His arrest, beating, death and resurrection, Peter began to rebuke and contradict Him (vv. 21–22). Peter did not understand that Christ would have to die so salvation could be opened for all.
What was Christ’s response? “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men” (v. 23). Peter, under Satan’s influence, was expressing Satan’s thoughts. Satan has us in his sights. He will do all he can to trip us or lead us astray, anything to divert us from the path to salvation. He hates us.
Our Enemy’s Devices
Paul, in a corrective letter to the Galatian brethren, asked them, “Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you” (Galatians 5:7–8). He asked “who,” not “what.” Someone was hindering them, and that being was Satan, who is still actively trying to hinder and destroy every human being.
Paul goes on to list “the works of the flesh” (Galatians 5:19–21). These are serious attitudes and behaviors, including adultery, idolatry, sorcery, wrath, and murder. They are works that will never bring us lasting joy, peace, or well-being. Paul then writes, “I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (v. 21). Satan wants us to cling to such attitudes and sins so we will be denied God’s Kingdom.
Satan once experienced the beauty and glory of that Kingdom; he served in the throne room of God. In Ezekiel 28:11–19 we have “a lamentation for the king of Tyre,” and this is an account of the fall of Satan. “You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty… [but] you became filled with violence within, and you sinned.” Satan now wants to infect us with precisely the attitude of pride that doomed him. If we succumb to his sickness, we will not enter God’s Kingdom.
Paul informed Timothy that “the Spirit expressly says that in latter times [our times today] some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1–2). Satan and his minions know prophecy and can see the signs of the end-times. They will hasten to attack our every weakness, so we must reinforce our spiritual lives and with God’s help build a barrier against the fiery darts of Satan (Ephesians 6:16). In fact, we must put on the whole armor of God (vv. 10–18).
We must be watchful and durable, and we must work hard to fulfill our calling, supporting God’s Work. Sadly, some Church members will be ensnared by the Devil, becoming motivated to do the Devil’s work rather than God’s (2 Timothy 2:26). What a tragedy!
Brethren, this is a mortal danger to us. We are not our own worst enemy—Satan is!
Let us ask God to reveal to us where we are weak, and let us work with Him to shore up our defenses against our true worst enemy. Then we can expect to soon hear the wonderful words, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:23).