Born Into a Battle

“The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan.” Mark 1:12

We are born into a battle. This Lenten journey we began last Ash Wednesday, is part of this battle we face against the ancient enemy. Just as Jesus faced Satan during His forty days of solitude, we too do not fight with human enemies. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12) 

Luigi, my husband, was telling me about the time he encountered a skunk in Busuanga. He was hunting squirrels to eat, but instead a skunk came out of the path and discharged an oily, yellow spray from its anal glands. The dog that accompanied him, rubbed his nose and eyes, started rolling on the ground and passed out. Luigi was able to run but when he got to 50 meters, he had to sit on the ground and lean on a tree because of a severe headache. He felt nausea, for the smell was so noxious and overpowering. 

If only evil emitted a foul smell and we could spot it right away from the color and overpowering effect on us. But evil likes to parade in fine clothes and perfume. It deceives and beguiles. During Jesus’ sojourn in the desert, Satan offered Him bread when He was hungry. Bread is certainly not a bad thing but the enemy knew if Jesus succumbed, He would be under His power. Satan wanted Jesus to satisfy Himself, not deny Himself. Another temptation was power: ‘The devil showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence and he said to him, “All these I shall give to you if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away from Me, Satan! It is written: The Lord, your God, shall you worship and Him alone shall you serve.” Then the devil left him…” 

If Jesus had to use the Word of God to fight evil, so should we do the same. Ephesians 6:17 says the sword of the Spirit is the word of God. We need to protect ourselves against the deceptions of the evil one, and familiarize ourselves with the weapon of God’s Word.