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Draw Near to the Devil (and He Will Draw Near to You)
By Steve Gallagher
The title, of course, is a corruption of the words of James: “Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:7-8) These two biblical statements arguably embody the summation of man’s life on earth. They represent the two forces constantly vying for the affections and hearts of men.
An examination of these two biblical comments (and their equally accurate counterparts) will provide a wealth of spiritual knowledge:
- Draw near to the devil and he will draw near to you.
- Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
- Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
- Resist the Lord and He will flee from you.
Let’s begin with the first sentence. If you come into the vicinity of the enemy’s camp, like a grinning carnival huckster, he will happily welcome you into his glittering sideshow. The best defense against his cunning schemes is to follow the advice from the wise man about the prowling prostitute: “Do not stray into her paths. For many are the victims she has cast down, and numerous are all her slain.” (Proverbs 7:25-26)
In our case, it’s not so much the carnival or red-light district we need to avoid but the overarching realm in which the enemy dwells. Satan is called “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.” (Ephesians 2:2) He and his minions inhabit atmospheres where sinners indulge their lusts. Clearly, Christians have no business in places like bars, casinos or even carnivals. Not so obvious are the more subtle regions the enemy stalks such as television air waves or the vast, unchartered realm of the Internet. Be very careful when you slip into these waters because lurking under the surface are serpents poised to attack.
James wrote, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” But my experience has been that many believers know very little about resisting. They have been indulging themselves in the enemy’s little seductions for so long that they hardly know any other way of life. Like the neighborhood drug pusher who uses marijuana to get the adolescent hooked on heroin, devils are masters at using innocuous forms of pleasure and entertainment to draw people deeper into the realm of darkness. |
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| In occupied European countries during World War II, there were resistance fighters who saw the occupying German army as unwanted enemies. These brave men and women did their utmost to slow down transportation, disrupt production and create confusion for the Nazi war machine. What a contrast were the Nazi sympathizers who selfishly capitalized on the situation. Christians are also at war and these groups represent the two mindsets at work in the Church today: resisters and collaborators.
Long before there was an Internet or 100 channels of cable television, A. W. Tozer wrote: “Men think of the world, not as a battleground but as a playground. We are not here to fight, we are here to frolic. We are not in a foreign land, we are at home. We are not getting ready to live, we are already living, and the best we can do is rid ourselves of our inhibitions and our frustrations and live this life to the full.”
Yet James tells his readers that if they will resist the enemy’s lures, if they will withstand his temptations and refuse to live for his transient pleasures, the devil will quickly lose heart and will flee. I can attest that the truth of this statement is amazing!
However, humans simply do not have the wherewithal to resist such a world of tantalizing enticements unless there is something greater to satisfy the inherent desire for fulfillment. James offered such a solution when he wrote, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” What a fabulous promise!
“You will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul,” wrote Moses. (Deuteronomy 4:29) “I love those who love me; and those who diligently seek me will find me,” chimed in the wise man. (Proverbs 8:17) “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near,” the prophet later added. (Isaiah 55:6) These verses all point to an important element of the believer’s life. The Lord will make Himself real to the one who cares enough to seek Him.
But alas, this brings us to the final sad statement we must examine: “Resist the Lord and He will flee from you.” If a person persists in ignoring the Lord, the time will eventually come when He will leave him to himself. “He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever.” (Psalm 103:9) If a person continues to resist, quench and grieve the Holy Spirit, He will eventually withdraw His grace from his life.
These four statements can really be reduced into one basic truth: People are either moving toward the Lord or toward the devil in their daily lives. It really is as simple as that. Let’s commit ourselves to answering the call James made: “Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
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| | Steve Gallagher is the Founder and President of Pure Life Ministries. He has dedicated his life to helping men find freedom from sexual sin and leading Christians into the abundant life in God that comes through deep repentance.
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| Copyright © 2021 by Pure Life Ministries. Permission is granted to use, copy, distribute, or retransmit information or materials on this page, so long as proper acknowledgment is given to Pure Life Ministries as the source of the materials, and no modifications are made to such material.
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| | | It’s been said that first impressions are everything, and for the struggling Christian porn addict there was no stronger impression than their earliest taste of sexual sin. With that initial introduction, there was no thought to how far it would take them or how deeply corrupted their hearts and minds would become. It was only years later, when they were at the bottom of the pit did they ask, “How did I get here?” More importantly, they asked, “How do I get out of here?” The answer is easier than you might think; the way of escape is found in the way an addiction is formed.
Watch the full series "20 Truths that Helped Me in My Battle with Porn Addiction" on our YOUTUBE CHANNEL |
| | | For many, the idea of prayer is no more than a means to meet their own needs and desires. But this idea, while having its place, is no more than a small aspect of a true Christian’s prayer life. Jesus’ greatest commandments were to love God and to love others, and both of these must become the bedrocks of our prayer life. In this podcast, we talk about the connection between praying for others and experiencing victory in our own spiritual struggles. We find the basis for this in Jesus’ words, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”
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