The god of this world

“In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4

January 11, 2023

I dare say we know our home address without any hesitation. With equal awareness we know our neighborhoods. But what about the world in which we live? Scripture tells us in no uncertain terms that “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 Jn. 5:19). As Christians we wrestle “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph. 5:12). Paul told the Galatian believers that Christ “gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age” (Gal. 1:4). This is the world to which we are not to be conformed (Rom. 12:2). All this is of unusual importance given the fact that we are under great pressure to be squeezed into the world’s mold. The world in this sense is all thought and life controlled by the devil. There is a systematic way of looking at things which is untouched by the Word of God. However, as Christians, we are to take heart that “everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world” (1 Jn. 5:4). We are not in a losing battle, but we must be vigilant in our circumstantial awareness, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the eye-opening discernment the Word of God gives.
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“O Lord, I know that you rule over this world and that you have Satan on a leash. Give me the wisdom to not be taken in by the thoughts, opinions, values, and goals hostile to you and your purposes for me in this life.”