Section
II : Evil Spirit – Natural State of Man
Human
nature is only part of our problem. The Bible teaches that as well as
our natural depravity there is in addition the Devil who rules in the
hearts of the wicked. His rule is so general that the Bible calls him
“the prince of this world”. But this very question of the
existence of the Devil highlights the difference between the religion
of the Bible and the nominal Christianity in our country today. The
Bible is plain about the reality of the Devil but Popular
Christianity laughs at the idea and says that in our enlightened age
it cannot be believed.
People
often dismiss the existence of evil spirits on the flimsy excuse that
once ghost stories were believed but now we see through them as
superstitious tales. But taking that argument we would end up denying
the existence of any spiritual beings. As to temptation: we
cannot see evil spirits but we do see some human beings who are
clearly enemies of God and all that is good who try to get others to
join them in perpetrating evil. So why should there not be spiritual
beings who are likewise enemies of God and all that is good who try
to tempt humans to perpetrate evil? It is inconsistent to admit that
humans can tempt other humans to do evil but refuse to admit that
spiritual beings can also tempt humans.
If
the Bible is true, we face a grim reality: we are attacked from
within by our corrupt nature and from without by the Devil's
temptations. So how do we face the prospect of the coming Judgement?
If we look at the qualities and character of the Judge and the rule
he will employ our fears only get bigger.
As
to his qualities: He has absolute power and knows everything we have
ever done and our every secret thought. Nothing is hidden fro him.
As
to his character: “God is a consuming fire”
his “eyes are too pure to look on evil”.
As
to the rule he will use: “the one who sins is
the one who shall die” and “sin pays
a wage: death”. If we don't think God means what he says
just look at history. Look at what he did to Sodom and Gomorrah, what
he ordered Israel to do to the idolatrous Canaanite nations. Look at
Tyre, Babylon, Nineveh: God said through his prophets he would wreak
judgement on them – and he did! How can people be so silly as to
fool themselves that God will somehow let them off because 'it was
just human nature'! True – along with the threats the Bible holds
out the wonderful promise of forgiveness to those who repent. But the
key is when they repent. “But
since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when
I stretch out my hand, since you disregard all my advice and do not
accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I
will mock when calamity overtakes you— when
calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you
like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you. Then they
will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will
not find me, since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear
the Lord.”
One cannot seriously read the Bible without realising the dreadful
judgement that awaits people who refuse to heed God. Even in this
world we see hints of God's judgement in the inbuilt 'cause and
effect' nature of the world.
But
praise be to God! He has not left us without hope in the face of
awful judgement. Jesus came “to proclaim good
news to the poor … freedom for the prisoners … sight for the
blind … to let the oppressed go free.” People who realise
their desperate need jump at the freedom Jesus offers them! But in
order for people to realise their great need we must
talk about human corruption. But no one wants to talk about it
because it offends our human pride. So we see today much religion
lacking solid foundations where no one is convicted to “flee
from the wrath to come” and we do not “work
out our own salvation with fear and trembling”.
We
must shake off this lethargy. A practical realisation of our natural
depravity and weakness will help us here. Just as understanding this
made us realise our need of God, so reminding ourselves of it will
keep us depending on Him. Only obstinate stupidity can say that
humans are basically good in the face of all the evidence around us
and the voice of scripture. Don't be stupid - be wise.
We
need to make this doctrine our habitual feeling. When we see acts of
folly and vice we must always remind ourselves that we also share the
same human nature which produced these bad things. Like one disease
sufferer seeing another's symptoms we should pity the offender and be
vigilant against the fault in our own hearts.
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