By Jeff Scoggins

I had two enemies all through college. We were roommates. We spent much of our time together. We ate together, played sports together, talked together—and played practical jokes on each other. That’s why I call them enemies. They were Doug and Greg.

In those days freshmen at Union College had the privilege of living in a separate men’s dormitory—one that could more afford the abuse. Looking back I see the wisdom in the policy. However, during my freshmen year that dorm was only sparsely populated, which meant that partway through the year we were each given the option of having our own room. I took it.

One day Doug and Greg were in my room when Doug, unprovoked, stood and yanked out one of my desk drawers and dumped its contents into the middle of the floor. Then he dropped the empty drawer on top. With a wide grin he looked for my reaction. Caught completely off guard I just cocked my head. I didn’t get the joke. But apparently Greg did because he laughed uproariously then jumped up and pulled out another drawer and dumped it on top of the other.

Suddenly both Doug and Greg leaped into furious action depositing all of my earthly possessions into a heap in the middle of the floor. Powerless to stop them and knowing I’d look foolish trying I simply watched. Eventually I had a bright idea, so I left the room closing the door behind me. Unfortunately, I found their doors locked. So much for my bright idea. Revenge would have to wait. I walked back to my room and found my door locked. Inside was silence. They couldn’t have left the room without me seeing them.

I knocked. I called. Still silence. Eventually I found a dean who let me into my room. The window was open. That had been their exit. The dean looked at the great pile in the middle of my room. Nothing had been left in its proper place. The dean cast a quizzical look at me then left without a word. Whether it had needed it or not my room received a thorough reorganizing.

1 Corinthians 3:16 presents an image of our bodies as a home where the Spirit of God can live. But it can become the home of a different spirit as well. We have a real enemy who enjoys nothing more than moving into our lives, and making a wreck of it. One by one he pulls out the stops on our inhibitions then tosses in small bad habits. The mess grows from there until finally nothing is untouched. Our families, our friends, ourselves, and even God is hurt by the destruction.

Do you sit by and just watch him do it, maybe even thinking that you’ll look foolish trying to stop him? Perhaps you check out mentally and ignore what’s going on figuring you’ll just clean up later? I wonder what would have happened that day if I had dropped to my knees in my room and began to ask God to stop Doug and Greg? At the very least the look on their faces would have been priceless. Fortunately, we don’t have to wonder what happens when we drop to my knees for help against Satan. He isn’t confused he’s terrified. He runs. “Resist the devil and he will flee from you,” James 4:7.

A bit of advice, though, from Jesus. When you get your “home” back and sweep it clean, fill it completely with the Spirit of God (Luke 11:25-26). Do not resist the devil defensively, resist offensively. Pray the devil away then fill the home of your heart with the One who will not sit by like a fool the next time someone tries to trash your life.