Beech Tree News Network

This statement was made to me by 96 year-old lady. After she said this, I thought about how much she has seen and experienced. She can surely attest to the fact that “the Devil doesn’t sleep”! Her statement is not a Bible quote, but it reflects a Bible statement found in I Peter 5:8. Peter warned the Christians, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” It is also similar to what was said when Satan spoke to God in Job 1:7 and 2:2. In the book of Job, on two occasions, God speaks to Satan about where he has been. Satan responded, “From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.” Satan walks “up and down” and “to and fro” looking for souls that he can devour. No, the Devil does not sleep!

             The Devil is ever-active and looking for ways to tempt us and lure us away from God. When we consider the state of our society today, we can see that he is very good at his job! When we observe the broken homes, the addictions, the sinful lifestyles, people denying God’s existence, selfishness, abuse, lies, gossip, pornography, false teachings, false religions, murders, etc., it is apparent that the Devil stays busy at his job. He is not asleep!

             Knowing that the Devil doesn’t sleep, what can we do? Are we doomed to sin and fail? Absolutely not! Even when we are tempted (Jas. 1:14-15; I Jn. 2:15-17), “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (I Cor. 10:13). Furthermore, when we sin (Rom. 3:23), God has made a way that we can be forgiven of the sins that we have committed. Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mk. 16:16). The apostles taught this truth throughout the book of Acts (Acts 2:38, 8:12-13, 8:35-39, 16:13-14, 16:31-34, 19:5, 22:16). Are we listening? God will not allow the Devil to run amok. We can overcome his advances (I Cor. 10:13). We can resist the Devil. When we do this, he will flee from us (Jas. 4:7)!

            No, the Devil doesn’t sleep, but thankfully, as we have noted above, God doesn’t sleep either (Ps. 121:3-4; Isa. 40:28)! His eyes are “in every place, beholding the evil and the good” (Prov. 15:3). We know God is not asleep, because He has been active in providing a Savior for man. Paul wrote, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom. 5:6). Throughout man’s history, God promised a Messiah (Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14; etc.). Not only did God make a promise, but He also fulfilled this promise when Jesus came into this world, “when the fullness of time was come” (Gal. 4:4). He has blessed us and has given us the way to escape temptation (I Cor. 10:13). God is awake and has not forgotten us!

            Since the Devil doesn’t sleep, let us be thankful that God doesn’t sleep, either! The question we must answer now is, who will we follow? Will we follow God or Satan?

 -- You are invited to visit with the Caneyville church of Christ. Times of services: Sun.: 10:00 am, 10:45 am, 5:00 pm; Wed.: 7:00 pm. Website: http://caneyvillechurchofchrist.com Tune in to our radio program 101.5 FM at 5:30 am, Mon-Fri. Questions? Call: (270) 589-4167