Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. ( 1 John 4:4 4 Ye are of God, `my' little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. )

The conflict with the devil that results from being in Christ is brutal, but the outcome is certain. He may kill us, but he cannot conquer us in the end. We rise and live forever in joy with Christ, while he is finally cast into the lake of fire. Consider two texts that show we can be killed but not utterly ruined.

They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. ( Revelation 12:11 11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death. )

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. ( Revelation 2:10 10 Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life. )

In this battle with the devil, therefore, we are to resist him by faith and put on the armor of God. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you” ( James 4:7 7 Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you. –8).

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith” ( 1 Peter 5:8 8 Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour, –9). “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” ( Ephesians 6:11 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ).

In conclusion, weep for the helplessness of the world the way Jesus wept over Jerusalem’s blindness: “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes” ( Luke 19:42 42 saying, If thou hadst known in this day, even thou, the things which belong unto peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. ).

Rejoice that the providence of God is so massively active in restraining evil and prompting so much external conformity to righteousness. Trust in the triumph of Christ at Calvary. Resist the devil in faith that the one in you is greater than he. Risk your life to spread the liberating news as far as you can.