WHAT CAN YOU KNOW? Devotion 26 of 32 -- Tomorrow:
"WE KNOW that . . . the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one."
The knowledge we gain in Christ is essential and extensive. Not only do we know we are "of God," we know "the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one" (NKJV). In saying "in wickedness," the KJV emphasizes the IMPACT of Satan's influence. The other versions, which are technically more accurate, emphasize the SOURCE of the wickedness in the world. "The whole world is under the control of the evil one" (NIV). "The whole world lies in the power of the evil one" (NASB, NRSV).
Those outside of Christ are limited to the world, and are therefore under Satan's control. He is unquestionably "the god of this world" and "the prince of this world" (2 Cor 4:4; John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). You may recall when the devil tempted Jesus, he made reference to his dominion in this world. "Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, ‘All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish'" (Lk 4:5-6, NKJV). Our Lord did not object to Satan's boast, knowing that this world had, in fact been given to the old serpent.
Because the entire world order has been rejected, Satan has been given control over it – for Satan can have nothing that God has not rejected. As soon as a person becomes a friend of the world, he forges an alliance with Satan, and thus becomes the enemy of God (James 4:4). For this reason we were exhorted earlier, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (1 John 2:15-16). Those who live according to the flesh are under Satan's control, for they are confined to this world. Further, if one is not "of God," it is utterly impossible to live in any other way.
One of the great tragedies of our time is the absence of this knowledge in the professed church. The growing prevalence of worldly manners in the church confirms this truth is little known. Make no mistake about this. When professed believers go to the world for wisdom, that wisdom will come from the devil who controls the world. Whether it is economics, social relationships, institution building, or how to influence people, those who borrow from the world receive from Satan. For the believer, the only lasting knowledge is found in Christ Jesus. As it is written, "Christ, in whom are hid ALL the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col 2:3). If men want to obtain lasting wisdom and knowledge, it must be appropriated through Jesus Christ. It is all "hidden" in Him, so that it cannot be obtained by the disinterested or the unconverted.
Whatever is received from the world must be held tenuously and not trusted. Our quest is for "every good gift and every perfect gift" that "is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning" (James 1:17). These gifts equip us to "use this world" and "not abuse it, for the fashion of this world passeth away" (1 Cor 7:31). Our knowledge that "the whole world lies in the power of the evil one" assists us in conducting our lives in harmony with the good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Rom 12:2).
It is necessary to confirm the truth of this statement to our hearts. Here is a perspective of the whole of humanity outside of Christ. Everyone who is not "born of God," regardless of their culture and seeming goodness, is under the dominion of Satan.
The Spirit strongly affirms this to be the case. The affirmation is made in strong and impressive words. "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others" (Eph 2:2-3).
Again it written, "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness" (Rom 6:17-20). And again, "For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another" (Tit 3:3).
These by no means exhaust the references to our condition apart from Christ. However, they will suffice to buttress the statement that "the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one" (NKJV).
If anyone still questions the reality of the truth declared, ponder the statements of the few texts to which I have referred. These clearly affirm the universality of sin and dominion to Satan, with not a solitary exception, saving the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. We walked according to the course of this world, and according to the prince of the power of the air.
2. Satan works in the children of disobedience, among whom we all were.
3. We were by nature the children of wrath.
4. We were the servants of sin.
5. We had to be freed from sin.
6. We yielded our capacities to uncleanness, and to progressing iniquity.
7. We were free from righteousness.
8. We were foolish and disobedient.
9. We were deceived and served various lusts and pleasures.
10. We lived in malice, envy, and hatred.
This is NOT the way SOME of us were, as though it represented only a portion of our race. This is the way we ALL were. We were ALL of the world, and consequently we were ALL under the dominion of Satan. How true, therefore it is: "the WHOLE world is under the control of the evil one" (NIV). Perhaps, outside of Christ, the human will is not as "free" as some imagine. The only is to be delivered from "this present evil world" (Gal 1:4). Those who know they are of God, also know this to be the case.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for delivering me from this present evil world, for lifting me out of a horrible pit, and setting my feet on the solid rock!