Lots of frightful things come out at Halloween. Lots of people in spooky costumes, that is. People like to dress up as zombies, vampires, ghosts, and demons. Such things are far less scary when we know that it's just a costume that will come off the next day.

I don't believe in the existence of most of what we see at Halloween, yet I know that there actually are evil spiritual forces at work in this world. Paul tells the Ephesians:

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 (Ephesians 6:12).

Even if much of the world denies their existence, these forces exist and influence our world. Jesus calls Satan "the prince of this world" (John 12:31), and Paul talks about "the god of this age" (2 Corinthians 4:4) and "the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient" (Ephesians 2:2).

Peter tells us: "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). Other texts tell us that Satan is actively working to deceive us.

Am I trying to scare you? Not at all. I want you to know that these things exist, yet I also want to remind you that we need not fear them at all. James tells us to "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). And John provides the information that should take away all fear:

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

There are scary things in this world, but we need not fear any of them. The one who is in us is greater than the powers of this world.

The power and protection of Jesus are available to all of us
Is Jesus in you? If not, let me tell you that his power and protection are available to all of us. Visit our HopeForLife.org and read through the steps you'll find on the first page, steps that tell you how to have a life of hope rather than a life of fear. If you have questions about how to become a child of God, with Jesus living inside of you, then write to me at tarcher@heraldoftruth.org.

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