0767. Satan Imparts a False Peace
Satan Imparts a False Peace
"When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are at peace" (Luk_11:21).
The 11th chapter of Luke describes Jesus Christ casting out a demon. The Pharisees said: "He casteth out demons through Beelzebub the prince of demons." Following this, the Lord gave a message well worth our consideration (see Luk_11:19-26).
1. Christ described a strong man keeping his house. The strong man is satan, his house is the human life. He is keeping his house, that is, men are held captive under satan’s power.
2. Christ speaks of His goods being at peace. Unregenerate men have no peace so far as "the peace that passeth all understanding" is concerned. But they have peace in the sense that they are ignorant of their sad estate.
The devil keeps his goods at peace. That is, the devil withstands every effort on the part of the Holy Spirit, through the preaching of the Gospel, to awaken the slumbering conscience of the unsaved.
The devil will keep every one possible away from a church, where the old-time revival is in progress. He will combat every sermon on hell and every message which would tend to show the sinner that he is lost. He will calm the fears of the unregenerate by proclaiming that the lake of fire should be relegated to the scrap heap of ancient dogmas.
The devil will urge upon the sinner that God is too good to damn him; he will press upon the unsaved the lie, that they are their own saviour. In brief, satan will do everything he can to keep the sinner asleep–to keep his goods at peace.
3. Christ also speaks of the strong man’s armor wherein he trusted. His armor, of course, includes all his denials of the faith. Destructive critics, infidels and agnostics are all included in satan’s most trustworthy armor. Satan also uses the pleasure of the world and the cares of business to ensnare the wicked. These hold a strong place in his trustworthy armor.
4. Christ tells us of the Stronger One, Who overcomes the strong man. Praise God, Jesus Christ, our Lord, will help every sinner who flies to Him for refuge and believes in His saving grace. He is abundantly able to deliver.
Let no unbeliever be allured into a false peace. Satan, through his false prophets, will say, "Peace, peace," when there is no peace.
There are, in fact, two kinds of peace–"the peace with God" which is obtained at the Cross; "the peace of God," which is obtained through the Living Christ–both of these experiences satan will belie. Let us acquaint ourselves with his devices. Look to the Stronger One for deliverance.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR