The biggest enemy of God is the devil—the evil one. Have you ever thought about the names that are given to him in the Bible? He’s called the deceiver (Rev. 12:9), adversary (1 Peter 5:8), murderer (John 8:44), accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10), tempter (Matthew 4:3), god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4), prince of this world (John 12:31), destroyer, wicked one (Matthew 13:19), and power of darkness (Col. 1:13).
He is most clever when he gets people to think he doesn’t exist at all. Some say, “Oh well, yes, he exists. He’s dressed all in red and in charge of hell, isn’t he?”
Let me tell you something: the devil is not in hell.
First Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (emphasis mine). He’s not in hell—yet. He’s busy trying to distract, discourage, and destroy!
Ephesians 6:12 explains, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” The battle is not between human beings. It’s against the prince of this world.
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