For the man moving towards his God there are three obstacles that are world, flesh and Satan. For one who believes in the Bible, there is no doubt about the existence of Satan. But the other two, world and flesh, create some serious doubts in the minds of the people.

WORLD

We talk of certain people as worldly. By the term ‘worldly’, we often imply those people that live in luxury, those who bedeck themselves in jewelry and make-up, who live a lavish life, and those who hanker after worldly comforts and pleasures. A person who reads the daily newspaper might appear a worldly man to somebody else. There are people who think that worldly people are those who keep away themselves from the church and church-related activities.

In the language of the Bible, the term ‘worldly’ implies those people who are more interested in the created things than in the creator and the society of such people. They move away from God, and give their attention to things, to individuals, to knowledge or even to laws and regulations. When an individual’s whole attention is riveted to the things of the world and the matters of the world, he automatically, even without his knowing of it, gets away from God. The basis of all the sins is interwoven with this.

This is the state of disbelief. It is also the level of superstitions. “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (Jn 3:16). Jesus had salvific love towards  the world.     

There is nothing wrong in earning money or achieving worldly success. But the main thing is this: all the objectives of our love should be Christ and his Kingdom and not the physical world or its attractions. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; for all that is in the world - the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches - comes not from the Father but from the world”                  (1 Jn 2:15-16).

The word ‘world’ has many subtleties and nuances of meaning. It can mean: 1.  The flesh of man, at the physical level. 2. The entire mankind. 3. Body, mind and soul. 4. The baser instincts of man. 5. The exterior and superficial aspects of life. Flesh is often used as a synonym for carnality. The flesh focuses on the external things.

The Bible reminds us that people who believe in Christ are in constant spiritual struggle against the flesh. But the spokespersons of ‘modern thinking’ have a pejorative view of the above truth and they dismiss it as something insignificant. I am not saying that we should see our bodily or physical life as a big enemy. The fact is that bodily desires and demands often create impediments in the spiritual growth of men. Merely by denying this truth, you can’t make it unreal or wish it to go away. Some people boast by saying that they do not have any temptations, they do not have any struggle and so on. The reason for such a complacent feeling is that they have lost their grace to recognize the existence of the enemy who is slowly subduing them. This way they become willing slaves to the machinations of Satan.

St. Paul reminds us, “The mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law” (Rom 8:7). It is not wrong to have worldly desires. But to live according to them is the mistake. “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Rom 8:8). So St. Paul tells us what to do, “Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Gal 5:16).

As long as a person is alive, he has to struggle with the enemy called flesh. “What the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want” (Gal 5:17). However an individual grows in spirituality, he still will have temptations and the propensity to commit sins. There is a difference between temptation and sin. Temptation is the first stage to go against the will of God. Even Christ had temptations and, obviously, all the people will have temptations. A temptation slides into a sin when it steps over the threshold and aids and abets it by actually carries out its demands. “One is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death” (Jas 1:14-15).

The only way to check the temptations of the flesh is submitting ourselves to the control and guidance of the Spirit. “If you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God” (Rom 8:13-14).

SATAN

Satan is the real, potent enemy. Let there be no doubt about this. Only when we can recognize his intricate, Machiavellian machinations we will be in a position to overcome his plans. St. Peter reminds us, “Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith” (1 Pet 5:8-9).

Once a missionary brother confided to me, “I am scared of the devil”. I told him, “If you are the one controlling your life, you should be afraid of the devil. But if you allow Jesus Christ to take over your life, there is nothing you have to be afraid of because the Bible says, ‘The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 Jn 4:4).

Satan has been defeated  nearly 2000 years ago. Satan failed the moment Jesus Christ died on the cross in Calvary, fulfilling the prophecies, atoning for our sins. Satan may have power to influence men but only so far as God permits him to do. Satan can’t go beyond the bounds of what God, in his infinite knowledge and wisdom, has permitted him.

Let me ask a simple question to those who say that they are afraid of the devil. What will you do if a man-eating lion gets into your town? Obviously, you will cage him. This is what God has done to Satan. Observe a caged lion or tiger in a zoo. He will be pacing up and down in the cage menacingly, impatiently. But it can’t hurt you as it is secured in the cage. Even if you go quite close to the cage, it may not be able to reach you and harm you. But if you enter the cage, you can be sure of death. But as far as you are outside the cage, you do not have to fear anything.

Just like that, as long as you are dependent on Jesus and his power, you need not fear Satan. Do not forget that Satan has power only up to a limit that has been sanctioned by God in his infinite wisdom. That is why St. Paul exhorts us to put on the whole armour of God to be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (Eph 6:10-17). Although Satan is an enemy trying to trap us, we do not have to be afraid of him. He may persuade us to disobey God using deceit and betrayal, but we do not have stand in awe and fear of him. But if we continue to be worldly, if we persist in sin, there would be problems in our personal, family or church life. There is no bigger danger for a Christian than living a debased life of debauchery and desires of the flesh. If we live such a life, the cage of the lion, Satan, will open and he will definitely devour us.