Those who reject Christ are under the influence of the devil

Published 8:59 am Monday, October 2, 2023

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From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Dear Rev. Graham: Is it true that Satan is the great deceiver and is indeed “the god of this age”? If so, where is that found, and can we overcome the devil’s power? – F.R.

Dear F.R.: The Bible says that the whole cosmos (world) is under the control of Satan, and he is the great deceiver (see Revelation 12:9). Scripture calls him the accuser of the brethren. He’s called a roaring lion and the king of beasts. He goes about “seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). It is stated in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 that the Gospel “is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded.”
Mankind is helpless before Satan. Men and women are unable to chain him. The church cannot dethrone him. Legislation is impotent. The United Nations does not know how to handle him. They don’t even understand that they’re dealing with a spiritual power – an enormous power of evil in the world.
This indeed is very bad news. But one marvelous fact cannot be overlooked – there is One who is more powerful than Satan! This One defeated him over 2,000 years ago on the cross. The devil did not want Jesus Christ to go to the cross because he knew that Christ would bear the sins of the whole world. God was saying to mankind from the cross, “I love you. I want to forgive you of all of your sins. I want you to be My child and one day be with Me in Heaven.”
Those who reject Christ are under the influence of the devil who is still in charge of the evil and chaos in the world. All the injustices, all the crime, all the wickedness, come from the god of this age. There’s only one person who can deal with the devil and that is Jesus, the Deliverer of the soul.
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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)

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