There was a time many years ago when I was an atheist. At college I persuaded friends to try out an Ouija board. It’s supposed to connect with the spirit world and provide a way to ask questions of the dead or spirits. Being the only atheist in the room I, of course, asked them to pose the question, “Is there a God?” My friends were very reluctant. I was afraid they would maneuver the “pointer” to say “Yes”, but thought the Ouija board would simply “fail” to answer. None of us expected a foul-language response. But, the response was not an answer because it only swore at us. At the time this puzzled me. Why would my friends say that? My friends were upset. They were not the kind to speak vulgarly. I never stopped to think it was actually something evil from the spirit world responding. 

1 Peter 5:8 “Control yourselves and be careful! The devil is your enemy, and he goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to attack and eat.” (ERV)

College was a period of rebellion. Why? Because I said to myself there is no God. I argued that logic was key to everything and that since I was logical, I must therefore be right. I think therefore I am. If someone managed to convince me I was wrong about something, I could switch sides faster than a speeding bullet. Being wrong was always history and easily forgotten. Satan probably was very happy I was so argumentative.

Upon reflection, the Ouija event was of the spirit world. Jesus and his followers had to contend with evil spirits in their day. Evil spirits were out in force to stop Jesus and his followers. In today’s world, technology and science is king. People no longer think about the spirit world. If you are an atheist, you would say there is no spirit world. Evil spirits do not like confrontations with believers because they will lose. So, being ignored by the world works in their favor.

In looking back over that period of my life, I realize evil spirits fought to keep me atheist. They did not want to confess there was a God, and they filled me with darkness. But God had other plans for me and so today I follow Jesus. Yes, there is a spirit world. We are at war with Satan and his demon spirits. So what should we do?

Romans 13:12-13 “So then we must lay aside the works of darkness, and put on the weapons of light. 13 Let us live decently as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in discord and jealousy.” (NET)

Living in the light means following Jesus. It means not falling to dark temptations of this world. It means knowing there really is a God and there really is a heaven and a hell. Satan and his demons fight for our souls, but Jesus promised to keep us safe.

John 10:27-29 ‘27 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” 28 “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” 29 “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” ‘ (ESV)