Do you know your enemy? How can one successfully fight and overcome the enemy if one does not know him? Our spiritual antagonist is "the dragon, the old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan." (Rev. 20:2) The following depiction by no means exhausts the devil's dimensions, but is merely suggestive. Get to know your enemy.

Evil Mind

Satan's mind is wicked and he would have you to be of a fleshly, carnal, and reprobate mind. The devil is delighted when one is "vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind." (Col. 2: 18) Take soberly this warning: "And even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up unto a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting" (Rom. 1:28).

Hard Heart

Secondly, the devil is described as leading men to harden their hearts against the saving instructions and wise warnings of God's Word. The inspired author of Hebrews warns one against the hardening of the heart (Heb. 3:8, 15 and 4:7). How pitiful that some are of the devil's dimensions through "blinding of the eyes and hardening of hearts." (John 12:40)

Closed Fist

The arch-enemy of mankind does not teach gratitude and thanksgiving. Far from it. "Where are the nine?" Satan says, "Who cares?" The old serpent is gleeful when he sees "grievous times come" filled with people who are "unthankful." (2 Tim. 3:2) The 66 closed fist" is descriptive of the devil's anatomy. Do you have one?

Wide - Open Mouth

Fourthly, the devil's dimensions show a wide-open mouth full of destruction. "He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his life; But he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction." (Prov. 13:3) Satan wants company. The company of fools like himself. "The tongue of the wise uttereth knowledge aright; but the mouth of fools poureth out folly." (Prov. 15:2) Satan sets a snare. Here it is: "A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul." (Prov. 18:7)

High Nose- Haughty Eyes

Haughty high heads are servants of the old serpent. "A high look, and a proud heart, even the lamp of the wicked, is sin." (Pro.v. 21:4) God hates "haughty eyes." (Prov. 6:17) Do you desire honor or destruction? Then heed this passage: "Before destruction the heart of man is haughty; And before honor goeth humility." (Prov. 18:12) The Christ-like individual humbles himself, and does not "think of himself more highly than he ought to think" and is "not wise in (his) own conceits." (Rom. 12:3, 16) But the puffed-up person fits the arrogant anatomy descriptive of the devil. (Cf. 1 Tim. 3:6)

Swift Feet

Finally, Satan and his servants have swift feet That is, "feet that are swift in running to mischief." (Prov. 6:18) It delights the devil to create discord and division. His game is one of mischief leading to misery. "Their feet are swift* to shed blood; Destruction and misery are in their ways; And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes." (Rom. 3:15-18)

These are the devil's descriptions. Do they denote you? Spiritually speaking, what kind of a mind, heart, fist, mouth, nose, eyes, and feet do you have?

Eternity is getting closer with every breath you take.

TRUTH MAGAZINE, XVI: 3, pp. 8-9
November 18, 1971