Obstacles of assurance

I went with my granddaughter to the Sight and Sound Theater in Lancaster, Pa., to see its annual production of Miracle of Christmas. It was better than Broadway. The stage was huge and nearly wraparound, and live horses, sheep, donkeys, and camels literally came out of the woodwork.

But what really won my heart was their rendition of the birth of Jesus. As Mary was delivering her anointed baby in the stable, a black-winged angelic being emerged from the shadows and hovered over the spot, its sword drawn and ready for the kill, ready to bring to naught the great plan of history.

Just as suddenly, a gleaming white angel appeared with its fiery sword and did battle with the evil spirit, sending it scurrying, and saving the day. I was so pleased that someone had read and taken to heart Revelation 12:4:

"And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child, he might devour it."

What clicked with me when I saw the scene depicted, rather than just reading it on paper, is that the devil attacks and throws obstacles where there is the greatest threat to his rule and kingdom. (For Satan's kingdom, see Ephesians 2:2.) This is a fight to the death.

"We wanted to come to you-I, Paul, again and again-but Satan hindered us" (1 Thessalonians 2:18).

Imagine Paul. Here he is doing the Lord's work, and praying day and night for an opening to Thessalonica. And suddenly the ship he had booked passage on is not going to Thessalonica anymore. Or a gale wind kicks up to scuttle the trip. Or one of his teammates falls sick.

Would our default mode, at this point, be to doubt? In a way, brothers and sisters, the obstacles in our lives should encourage us of the existence of the supernatural, not discourage us of it. Especially when these obstacles pop up as we are pursuing a labor of faith and love for God, they should assure us that we are finally worth attacking.