Satan—Angel of Light

A feeling that the Devil delights to arouse in an unguarded heart is the feeling that God does not love us. He usually times his attack to coincide with those moments when everything is going wrong and we are beset by all kinds of difficulties. Then he whispers in our ear: “Do you still believe that God is love?”

When you respond by saying that you do, he transforms himself into an angel of light and tries another of his deceitful tactics. “Well,” he says, “it is obvious that He does not love you, for if He did, then He would not allow you to go through these difficult situations.”

There is only one protection against such an assault; it is to put firmly in place the “armor of righteousness.” Nothing else will avail at this point. You must point him to the truth of Romans 8:28: “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God.” Paul does not say “we understand,” but “we know.”

This brings you directly to the theme of justification by faith, which is in fact the righteousness of Christ. You rest on this established truth, and that is all you need. You must say to yourself: “He would never have clothed me with His righteousness if He had not also set His love upon me and saved me. I will have courage. I do not know what is happening to me now. I cannot fathom it. But if He has begun His work in me, then I know He will go on to complete it.”

Further Study

Jr 31:1-3; Eph 2:1-7; 3:16-19; Php 1:6; Rm 5:8

How has God demonstrated His love?

What was Paul’s desire for the Ephesians?