Is the Devil Real?
“I don’t believe in the devil” was John’s response to me in a biblical discussion we were having. “I can’t see him”, he said, “and I don’t believe what I can’t see.” Regardless, just because we cannot see the devil does not mean he does not exist. We cannot see the wind, but it exists. This we know because we can see its affects: how it moves the clouds and blows branches and leaves around. The same is true with the devil.
We can see the affects of the devil's existence: sin. First John 3:8 (KJV) states, “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinnith from the beginning. ….” Sinning is breaking God’s Law of Ten Commandments (Romans 7:7; Exodus 20:1-17). One of the commandments tells us not to steal. Some people cannot help but to steal. We call them kleptomaniacs. Another commandment tells us not to kill. Many people are killing themselves by smoking cigarettes. Moreover, they cannot stop smoking, no matter how hard they try. Many others are taken over by various other vices as well.
People who smoke, steal and are controlled by other vices know that what they are doing is wrong; and many of them have a desire to escape from their vices, but they are powerless to do so. Therefore, we see that in their struggle there is a power controlling them that is not their own. A power compelling them to do that which is wrong. This is the power of the devil. For me, this is one of the strongest evidences that the devil does, indeed, exist.
However, there is an escape from the power of the devil. It is the power of Jesus Christ. John 1:12 states, “But as many as received [Jesus], to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name”. Jesus is more powerful than the devil; and when you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, He gives that power to you to live according to His Word. This is why the devil works so hard to keep people ignorant as to his existence.
of those unable to overcome their evil vices. Jesus Christ empowers us to overcome those vices after we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. This frees us from the power of the devil and delivers from following his path of destruction.
You see, when people become privy to the existence of the devil, logic leads them to acknowledge the existence of God. Once they gain an awareness of God, there is a much better chance of them learning about the gospel of Jesus Christ and His life-changing power. The devil does not want this because he looses his hold on his victims. He knows that his fate is sealed for destruction, and so he is working with intensity to bring others to ruin with him.
The existence of the devil is evident by his power in the lives of those unable to overcome their evil vices. Jesus Christ empowers us to overcome those vices after we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. This frees us from the power of the devil and delivers from following his path of destruction.
