“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” — James 4:7
Spiritual Battles
For decades, many filmmakers have tried to attain the success of George Lucas and have wondered how he developed such a powerful imagination. As a child, he read lots of comic books and adventure stories. When Lucas studied filmmaking in college, he sharpened his writing ability. He wrote “Star Wars” and it became a smash hit in 1977. This movie combined the yearning for victory over evil with the desire to go to a better world. Lucas took the super heroes of his childhood comic books to new heights with modern technology.
Though modern movies and video games capture the imagination, a real world of adventure exists in the invisible, spiritual world. In the Bible, we see angels, demons, God and Satan. The Lord reveals a vast unseen world on our way to the most exciting adventure.
Presently, the devil enjoys much power in the world and thinks he is better than any other villain. Long ago, Lucifer was the most beautiful angel, but he was jealous of God’s power and position. When he sought to claim God’s throne, the Lord threw him out of Heaven. Jesus recalled that time with the following words: “He replied, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven'” (Luke 10:18).
And Jesus actually described people as having a devilish attitude. “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).
One day, Christ will be the ultimate crime stopper when he defeats the devil once and for all. In the meantime, we don’t have to listen to Lucifer the loser, we can follow God instead. “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Ga.
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