Do We Know Our Enemy? He Sure Knows Us.

Satan isn't just someone made up for spooky entertainment; he is the father and perpetuator of sin.  And sin isn't harmless; it seeks to own our souls, to kill and destroy them.  (Genesis 4:7, Proverbs 7:26,27, 1 Peter 5:8.)  This spiritual war is no game; it is a war over our very souls.  As Christians, we are promised that God will, in the end win our souls and not lose one of them (John 17:12), but for now, while we are on earth, the devil is doing his best to wrest our souls away from God.  He is wily and he is scheming.  He uses innocent, even beloved, means.  He may use dear friends and family to subtly shift our affections and zeal for God and to allow doubt to creep in.  Satan takes full advantage of our personal affections to use them as a vehicle to usher doubt and unbelief into our lives.  Surely this is why Solomon so strongly admonishes us to guard our hearts above all else.  (Proverbs 4:23.)