The Apostle Peter warns of the devil’s prowling around as a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8). It is not a pleasant thing to think of. I suspect the first response for most of us is, “I hope he doesn’t sniff me out and decide to pounce on me.” Between this verse and the picture of the devil in Job 1 and 2 where he reports that he has been going to and fro in the earth, it would appear that the devil doesn’t rest much in his pursuit of the righteous.
What is it that allows us to resist the devil, as we are told to do in Peter’s warning, and remain “steadfast in the faith”(v. 9)? I would suggest that solid doctrine is our strongest weapon. When the “father of lies” (John 8:44) tries to discourage, intimidate, sow doubt, or harm, it appears to be with the intent of getting us to curse or deny God. But it is just here that our knowledge of the truth as revealed in God’s word is what will allow us to “quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one” (Ephesians 6:12).
The Bible teaches us that the devil has no rightful claim upon any of God’s elect. It is true that we “once walked according to the prince of the power of the air” but now, by God’s grace, that is no longer the case (Ephesians 2:1-2). Or, as Paul says elsewhere, “Who can bring a charge against God’s elect?” for it is God who has justified us and Christ who has redeemed us (Romans 8:33-34). No matter what may come our way, or who may be behind it, we are to be assured with the apostle that nothing “shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38).
Peter knew this first hand. When he issued his admonition he spoke from experience. Jesus had warned him, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat” (Luke 22:31). And sift him he did. Soon after Jesus issued this statement our Lord was arrested and Peter was denying he ever knew him (Luke 22:47-62). But Jesus also said that he had prayed for Peter and so directed him “. . . when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." Peter did return and was restored in the love and mercy of Christ (John 21:15-19). He personally experienced what Paul was talking about. He learned that nothing could separate him from the love of God, not even a determined devil who sought to sift him like wheat. From this place of tested and proven truth he did what Jesus asked of him, he wrote his epistle in order to strengthen his brethren in the face of their struggles against the prowling lion.
God’s Word and what it reveals about our election in Christ (or to put it another way, the gospel, or, the faith), is what strengthens us to stand against the lies of the devil when he connives to get us to believe that God has forgotten and forsaken us. Resist him steadfast in the faith.
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