When my husband was teaching an accounting class at a local college, I took one of the tests just for fun to see how well I could do. The results were not good. I answered every question wrong. The reason for my failure was that I started with a faulty understanding of a basic banking concept. I reversed debits and credits.
We sometimes get our debits and credits confused in the spiritual realm as well. When we blame Satan for everything that goes wrong—whether it’s bad weather, a jammed printer, or financial trouble—we’re actually giving him credit that he doesn’t deserve. We are ascribing to him the power to determine the quality of our lives, which he does not have. Satan is limited in time and space. He has to ask God’s permission before he can touch us (Job 1:12; Luke 22:31).
However, as the father of lies and prince of this world (John 8:44; 16:11), Satan can cause confusion. Jesus warned of a time when people would be so confused that they wouldn’t know right from wrong (16:2). But He added this assurance: “The prince of this world now stands condemned” (v. 11 niv).
Problems will disrupt our lives, but they cannot defeat us. Jesus has already overcome the world. To Him goes all the credit.
T
Today’s passage is part of the Upper Room Discourse (John 13–17)—the conversation Jesus had with His disciples the last time He was with them before His death. At several points Jesus tells His disciples that they will be misunderstood and hated by “the world.” He also tells them that although He is leaving them, it is for their benefit because when He leaves He will send the Holy Spirit (v. 7). We are not alone or abandoned in this world. Jesus has given us the gift of His Spirit to be our helper. J.R. Hudberg
