America has been duped by a vast and nefarious conspiracy. This conspiracy has infiltrated our government, our scientific establishment, and even our church. No, I’m not talking about a racism, Covid-19, media, or election conspiracy. The conspiracy I’m talking about is much bigger. In fact, for those with the eyes to see, this malicious conspiracy is revealed right in the Bible.

Ephesians 6:12, For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Yes, brethren, unknown to the whole world, a powerful demonic conspiracy is currently at work. Scripture calls Satan “the god of this world” (2 Cor 4:4), “the prince of the power of the air,” and even “the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience” (Eph 2:2). Along with his demonic potentates, he secretly presides over an evil world system so that “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 Jn 5:19; Mt 4:8-9).

And what is Satan’s aim in his devilish rule? Not the overturning of democracy in various places (as Satan is quite happy to use one failing form of human government as another), but two goals much more significant: the spiritual blindness of unbelievers to the gospel (2 Cor 4:4; Mt 13:19) and the spiritual stumbling and ruin of the saints. When the Bible talks about Satan’s schemes against God’s people, the Bible warns that Satan is chiefly concerned with destroying the spiritual health, joy, and usefulness of Christ’s disciples (Eph 6:10-17; 2 Tim 2:26; 2 Cor 2:10-11). Even in persecution and suffering, Satan’s ultimate goal is not the destruction of our bodies but the compromise and despair of our souls (1 Pet 5:8-10; Job 1-2).

So let us not be naïve, brethren. What we see happening around us right now is not random evil or mere human escalation of partisan rhetoric; it is part of a literally diabolical plot to discourage, divide, and destroy God’s church. We must not fall for it. Rather, we are to do as Paul urges the Ephesians to do in Eph 6:10-20: put on the panoply of God, form up in a battle line to face the spiritual onslaught, and stand firm together by the power of God in Christ.

For what schemes of Satan must we be on particular alert in these days? I will discuss two schemes in my next post.

Questions to Consider:
1. Do you believe the greatest danger facing us right now is physical or spiritual? How would the Bible answer?
2. Every difficulty can either drive us to God or away from God (and to or away from God’s church). Which way are these circumstances driving you?
3. We may be tempted now not only to despair over our country but also to despair over the situation in the church. But how does this play right into the hands of the devil? What promises would God have us believe instead as we take up the shield of faith?