Page 19 - May 2025 - Truth & Tidings

n his first recorded interaction with and their respective ministries took them
mankind, Satan came armed with into situations, both highs and lows, that
Ione of his most potent weapons. His took their toll in physical, mental and
opening move, as he came to usurp the emotional strain.
dominion that God had given to man, Fresh from the sensational victory over
was to introduce doubt in the mind of the prophets of Baal, Elijah feared for his
Eve as to what God had actually said life at the hands of Jezebel (1Ki 19:1-4).
(Gen 3:1). Eve’s response was a distor- Conscious that he was the messenger
tion of the Word of God (vv2-3), and that prophesied by Malachi, with a ministry
weakness was swiftly exploited by the greater in content than that of any other
devil, who then uttered a brazen denial of prophet, John the Baptist wondered if he
God’s Word. Consequently, Eve’s view of had gotten it all wrong (Mat 11:2-3). Paul,
things became deceptive (v6) and the result to whom the glorious “gospel of God” was
was disaster. The method by which Satan committed, had not the faintest doubt that
brought about the fall of man is one he still you and I could be saved eternally by the
employs and, sadly, it can still be effective. grace of God, through faith in our Lord
When a Christian is troubled by doubts Jesus Christ. Yet, perhaps on occasions
concerning their salvation, behind the when he was physically weak, beaten,
problem there is often a departure from imprisoned, cold and alone, his actions be-
confident dependence on the truth of fore he was saved and the suffering he had
God’s Word. There is nothing pejorative caused the Lord’s people all came flooding
in that suggestion; some of God’s choicest back into his mind. Whilst absolutely cer-
saints have been afflicted with doubts, and tain that you and I could be saved, did that
believers who are so troubled are in the dear man sometimes wonder whether he
company of heroes such as Elijah, John the could be? “A thorn in the flesh, the messen-
Baptist and Paul the Apostle. Those stal- ger of Satan sent to buffet me” (2Co 12:7) 1
wart servants of God were steeped in the sounds very much like “the fiery darts of
Scriptures, and they believed them with the wicked [one]” (Eph 6:16) that can only
all their heart. However, circumstances be quenched by “the shield of faith.” If, in-
arose which momentarily and unchar- deed, that was Paul’s repeated experience,
acteristically overwhelmed their faith,
and doubt troubled them. Remember, 1 Bible quotations in this article are from the
Elijah, John and Paul were real people, KJV.
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