The Devil and My Dachshund

Weighing 18 pounds and with legs measuring just shy of four inches, C, my sweet-natured Standard Dachshund, seldom worries those passing us as we trot throughout the neighborhood. She has however, frightened a slew of delivery personnel. I cannot say that I blame them. After all, X-ray vision goggles are not handed out with those snazzy brown uniforms so they cannot possibly know that the ferocious barking beast on the other side of the door would immediately roll on her back the moment they entered. Her only enemies being squirrels and cats, C is harmless to humans. She’s not to be feared.

While Satan is neither sweet or harmless, for believers in Christ, the evil one also is not to be feared. We were commanded not to be afraid and that included anything and anyone, which covers Satan. His growl is fierce, but he’s been defeated. The same nails that held our Lord to a cross for several hours have imprisoned the devil to an eternity in hell. To keep the dog analogy, he’s been neutered.

And that act has deepened the evil one’s hate for those who follow Christ. Knowing his fate has been sealed he’s resigned to a fight. Spewing darts and slinging mud, he comes at us with everything he’s got. But you know what I have learned? The only power he has over me is the power I give him.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.†Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)

Just as his end has been determined, so has my new beginning. The blood of Christ that condemned the Devil has freed me. I’m on the winning team. Satan cannot possess my soul. He cannot make me do things against my will. The only thing he can do is lie. And if I fall for those lies, he scores some points. But if I call him on those lies, he leaves tail between his legs. Sure, he’ll be back, but I’ll be ready.

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.†I Peter 5:8 (NIV).

I once viewed this verse as a “look over your shoulder or the devil’s gonna getcha†type of warning. But I don’t think that’s what it means. Peter doesn’t tell us to be scared and hide. He tells us to be self-controlled and alert. Prepared to fight. Why? So we can recognize the enemy and his schemes. So that the next time the devil whispers lies to our hearts we can lift up our heads, square our jaws, stomp our feet and say, “Oh no you don’t buddy. You’re the loser. And I’ve got that in writing.â€

(The Lord has put this on my heart to share with you today. Next week, I will continue the Armor of God series and discuss what it means to live with peace.)