Have
you ever overheard a conversation and been confused by what you heard? You know
you must be missing some pieces of information, but you just can’t figure out
what you heard. You were never the intended audience of the message, so the
missing information makes the communication incomplete and useless.
During
war to keep plans secret the military often uses code words to convey a
message. They might say “cobra” and that means go blow up the building. But
someone who overhears or intercepts the message will have no idea about the
plan’s details. They won’t even know that “cobra” is an execution order. They
might know it is something, but have no idea.
Messages
using code words could be broadcast over the open airwaves without fear of
exposing the plan. They would just be put into a story that the uniformed
person would read or hear and think, that was a nice story. But to the one with
the inside information, they would receive the message and know exactly what to
do next.
Our
text today doesn’t apply to everyone. It is specifically for Jesus-followers.
Those on the outside, without the knowledge of Christ, won’t know what John is
talking about because they have never experienced it. They don’t know what the
indwelling power of God feels like. They aren’t the dear children. They haven’t
been included in the group of people who are aware of the presence and power
Satan. They blissfully walk through life unaware of the influences that Satan
has on them and their world.
Not
so, with the Jesus-follower. We are aware of the spiritual nature of the
battles in this life. We pay attention, not drifting through the spiritual stream
of life. We have purpose and have the ability to be in step with the Spirit,
hearing His discernment in situations. He enables us to hear the false in the
false teacher’s message. Because we have the Spirit, He will be guiding us into
all truth.
John
tells us that we have overcome Satan and His schemes. It is not that we have in
ourselves strength to overcome, but that God now is with us as a loving parent
would be with their child. Protection and guidance are two of the greatest
roles that parents fulfill in their jobs as parents. And now we have the Holy
Spirit of God who is with us and overcomes Satan in our lives. It is not our
power that accomplishes this mission. It is, instead, the power and presence of
the LORD that does it.
The
LORD is greater than Satan, just as the watchmaker is greater than the watch.
Satan is a created being. The LORD is the Creator. He brought Satan into being
and is still more powerful than he is. That is why we can have confidence in
battle. No matter what false teaching that might come our way, if we keep to
the core of the Gospel, His power will enable us to overcome.
Remember,
this is not written to non-believers. Only Jesus-followers have the assurance
of overcoming power at their disposal. Non-believers have no assurance of God’s
protection and care. They are not children. They don’t have the right to family
protections. They are outsiders, often hostile to the message of hope found in
the Gospel.
But
we have the assurance of His presence and protection. Satan cannot overcome us.
Our bodies may fail, but we will see Him in all His glory.