WHAT about the devil?--That is an exceedingly difficult problem to the
wiseacres of this world.
Recently a learned professor proclaimed from his speaker's chair that
no single individual, no organization of any kind, could rid the world
of the devil, but Time would--Time would most certainly get him away.
And the assemblage applauded enthusiastically from out the joy of
their hearts. Most likely they did not stop to think at that moment
that Time would undo them long before it could ever undo the devil.
That may, however, be excused, for learned people often are somewhat
thoughtless--and all these were scholars.
Or was the charity of the auditors so far-seeing that it rejoiced in
behalf of generations yet unborn? Well, who knows--for that kind of
people also possess a heart.
Be that as it may.
But, concerning the devil--whether a devil actually exists or merely
is a creature of imagination; whether he is a really dangerous foe or
simply a phantom from the days of yore--I must try to make clear to
myself, and you must do likewise.
It doesn't appear to be so difficult, after all, when the matter is
approached without any frills and furbelows. I look at it this way:
I have been baptized to renounce the devil, all his works and all
his ways. That was told me at the moment of my baptism. I affirmed
it in order to be incorporated into the Kingdom of God. Jesus Christ
demands of me that I renounce the devil if I am to be His disciple. If,
then, no devil existed, He who is Himself the Truth and the Lord of
the Kingdom of Truth, at the outset must expect of me that I affirm a
lie--He whose own lips never knew untruth and deceit, would ask that I
in order to become a part of His Kingdom, renounce a devil who does not
exist: That would not only be senseless: It is impossible! When my Lord
and Saviour tells me to renounce the devil, then I do believe a devil
exists, and that my own welfare now and hereafter makes it necessary
that I keep away from him.
_In this matter, the word of my Lord sufficeth for me!_
It is my faith in this which relieves me of many of those speculative
difficulties which entangle so many others. I must choose between the
word of my Lord and the speculative mind of man. To me the choice
offers no difficulties at all. I choose the word of my Lord--no matter
whether or not the scornful laughter sounds derisively from the other
side. And let me say it once more: The word of my Lord sufficeth.
When, then, I meet some of those people who claim there is no devil;
that all talk about the devil is a relic of ancient superstition, I
simply say: You must excuse me, but in this matter I abide by the
word of the Lord. I cannot ignore His word and accept yours, and,
furthermore, I have _no reason whatever_ for doing so; I have never
yet found that I could not depend upon His word.
And if I then consider the ways of the world, as they are--then I
most certainly am not tempted to abandon the covenant of my baptism.
The works of the devil are apparent to all: Murder, adultery, theft,
robbery, fraud, deceit, drunkenness, etc. Many may say that these are
the doings of evil people, but if we look a little closer at these evil
people we will find that back of it all is one whose thralls these poor
creatures are.
If I try to look into the spiritual anguish of these pitiful
individuals, I am not tempted to give up my belief in the devil. To
be sure, I do not behold him physically, but I see his works. To me
it seems to be as when I see a building is being erected. I ask: Who
is building this place? I am told: It is Mr. Smith who builds this
place, and we are his laborers. I do not see Mr. Smith himself, but
I notice that his work goes on, and I do not doubt that he exists. I
see his laborers working, some sing and joke while others are sullen
and indifferent just because it happens that they have entered into an
agreement which for the time being makes them realize their obligations
to Mr. Smith. If the latter could only find a way to wriggle out of
that relationship, they would feel unspeakably relieved to do so.
Thus I see the works of the devil in the life of man, and by seeing
them I find no reason to doubt his existence. The evil people are
his laborers. They work in order to complete his job--some singing
and joking, others under compulsion. It is clear that especially the
latter are the slaves of the devil. By looking into the spiritual life
of these miserable ones I find confirmation of the word of my Lord
that there is a devil that must needs be renounced if we are to live
contentedly. It is from him our generation needs relief, and not from
all that ancient gossip about him.
I said a little while ago that the word of the Lord sufficeth for me in
this matter, and that is true. It does not correspond with the theories
of the wiseacres, but with Life itself. From the learned infidels the
cry is sounded: It isn't true. But from the depths of real human life
we hear the sigh: _We are sorely troubled by the devil!