POWER OF THE EVIL ONE by John Scott, D. D.

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 17, 1887

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 13, No. 11.

POWER OF THE EVIL ONE.

By John Scott, D. D.

THE whole Bible is permeated with the thought of a great spiritual conflict between the powers of light and of darkness for the salvation or ruin of man. Eliminate this idea from the Bible, and it becomes confused and utterly meaningless. The agency of Satan is prominently presented in connection with the first great transgression, and as its inciting cause. The existence and agency of evil spirits in opposing the will of Jehovah is clearly presented in the conflict between Moses, acting in the name of the God of Israel, and the gods of Egypt. The conflict was not between Jehovah and a myth, but between Jehovah and wicked spirits who exalted themselves against him. The existence of evil spirits, variously designated as gods, the gods of Egypt, the gods of the heathen, and false gods, meaning more than the images used to represent them, is recognized in almost innumerable instances in the Old Testament. The psalmist represents the people of God as having been seduced to the service of idols, and as sacrificing their sons and daughters, not to a myth, but to devils. This fact is asserted in several other places in the Old Testament; and Paul assures us that "the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils."

In the opening of Christ's great mission, he was encountered by Satan, not a creature of the imagination, but a real, spiritual foe, who sought to overcome him and defeat the divine purpose. The fact of demoniacal possessions, the evil influence of the spirits and their opposition to Christ, is presented so frequently and so clearly by the four evangelists that it cannot be denied. That this great spiritual conflict is still going on, and will continue to go on until the end, we are clearly taught in the Bible. This is not a conflict between influences, which can mean nothing aside from agencies, but between real spiritual beings. God's agency in promoting the happiness of the universe is personal and real, and so is the agency of the devil and his angels in opposing him.

We are here exposed to the adverse influence of those invisible, spiritual enemies—real spirits—who endeavor to lead us away from God. The apostle Peter assures us that our "adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." The apostle Paul exhorts us to "put on the whole armor of God, that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil," and then proceeds to say, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness," or, as it is in the margin, "wicked spirits, in high places." We are exhorted not to give place to the devil; to resist the devil; to be faithful lest we fall into the snare of the devil. Is all this a mere figure of speech? Is all this, uttered under the inspiration of God, a mere picture of imagination, a mere fancy of the mind? By no means. It is the declaration of plain and simple truth. The conflict in which we are engaged is a conflict with real, spiritual adversaries, and not imaginary foes. Although the conflict is a spiritual one, it is, nevertheless, personal and real.

We are not impressed with this truth as we should be. We do not allow it to occupy that place in our thoughts which its importance demands. If we knew that an assassin was lurking about our door to assault us, how careful we would be to avoid or resist his attack? But we know that Satan, or some of his minions, is dogging our steps every day. How important, then, that we be ever on our guard, and especially that we implore divine assistance, and ask God not to lead us into temptation, but to deliver us from evil, and the power of the evil one.—John Scott, D. D.