Halloween Post #2: Demons are real. And that is scary.

I know. I risk sounding like a religious nut. I share it, though, out of love for anyone who reads this. What is really scary is someone going through life without knowing this Truth.

Demons are real. Hell is real. There is a spiritual battle going on for your soul. There is a spiritual entity that feeds you lies. And it wants to use those lies to keep you in a bondage that leads to nowhere but death. And that is scary.

Our culture has given us many erroneous ideas about Heaven and Hell, demons and angels. It is no wonder that even Christians are confused about spiritual warfare.

Demons are not around every corner, but they also aren't absent from our daily lives, even the daily lives of devout Christians. Even Jesus was tempted by Satan. Satan and his demons work by feeding us lies and by tempting us to act in ways that will destroy the gift of life we've been given. And what is most disturbing, Satan likes to speak his lies through seemingly Godly communication, such as the twisting of scripture and false but seemingly pious teachers, and many unsuspecting Christians find themselves being torn to pieces in the jaws of Satan.

Christians, though vulnerable, need not fear Satan or his demons. Jesus won the war when He died and rose from the dead. Though they may still try to torment us and are still fighting for souls, we have all the power we need to fight them through the power of Jesus' resurrection. And that is true victory over evil, a victory we get to share in as Children of the King.

So, beware, there are demons in the dark corners. The dark corners of society. The dark corners of our hearts. Shine the light of Jesus in those dark corners, and as many dark corners as we can. Claim that territory for the Kingdom of God. Enter into the battle fully armed, ready to fight and prepare to conquer in the name of Almighty God.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:10-17)