There were some old cartoons when I was a kid that showed an angel on one shoulder and a devil on another as the character tried to decide. The devil always tried to get the character to do the wrong thing, while the angel did the opposite. Sadly, the devil has been reduced to some cartoon character. Satan is real, and ultimately he loses, but you need to be prepared.
Revelation 12:9
“And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”
Cast Out of Heaven
At one time, Satan, otherwise known as Lucifer, was an angel in heaven. He was in charge of all the worship and was on the same level as Michael and Gabriel. In his heart, he began to desire the worship being given to God. Satan led a rebellion, and one-third of all the angels were cast out of heaven. Lucifer became the devil, and the fallen angels became demons. He was allowed to roam the earth and tempt man, but he was also still allowed in heaven to accuse man of his sins before God. One day, during the great tribulation, that access will be cut off, and God will ready the Judgement Seat of Christ to judge Satan and all those who have rejected God.
Stand Accused
Imagine the throne room of God as a courthouse. Right now, Satan stands before God, accusing the saints, and Jesus is acting on your behalf as your lawyer. Fortunately, for those who are covered by the blood of Jesus, the accusations don’t stick. You may have sinned, but God’s grace covers you. You can’t lose your salvation, nor can Satan take it from you.
You Need to Be Prepared
There are Christians who downplay the spiritual life. They don’t put much weight on the warfare that is going on in the heavens; thus, they go out into the world ill-equipped for the temptations and attacks that come their way. Satan is real, and you need to be prepared for what he throws at you. Put on your spiritual armor and go about your day with the alertness of a soldier ready for battle. Ultimately Christ wins the war, but until then, you need to be on your guard.