Whether we like it or not, it is an undeniable fact that we have an enemy, the devil. One of his best strategies is to let us forget that he’s not there, that we’re not actually in a constant battle. And as surprising as it may seem, he also doesn’t like the fact that you’re a Christian and that you want to go to church. In fact, nothing would make him happier than to see you fall away from your faith and, as Peter so strikingly puts it above, devour you.
So how then do we survive? There are four things that Peter tells us we need to do in order to stop the devil getting the better of us:
1. Be self-controlled: stick with what God says is best for your life.
2. Be alert: know that you’re in a fight and there are things that could trip you up.
3. Resist the devil: be proactive. ‘Resist’ is a verb and requires us to actually do something. Get a strategy.
4. Stand firm in the faith: know who God is and who he says you are – “more than conquerors”.
But you’ll notice that Peter doesn’t leave it there. He tells us that we’re not in the struggle alone – our “brothers throughout the world” are going through the same things. You don’t have a monopoly on challenging times and you’re not expected to deal with them on your own. Your Christian family is there to support you and help you stay protected. Yes, God is our shelter, He is our protection, it’s his business; but he also gave his people the church to perform a similar function. The sheep that stays in the flock is much less likely to get picked off by the wolf.
Life as a student is absolutely littered with challenges for the Christian. Temptation is everywhere. Most of the time it’s tied up with the pressure to have “the time of your life” and the world’s warped view on how to get it – often somewhere between a Snakebite and a Vod-bull Tuesday. But God has a higher calling on our lives – he calls us to “be holy as he is holy”. We’ll never be perfect in our own strength and we’ll frequently make mistakes, but that shouldn’t stop us wanting to wholeheartedly pursue righteousness. And let us tell you, it’s a heck of a lot easier when done with the love and support of those around you
(c) Vinelife/Ralph Pedley 2008 (permission required)
