Fate

Luke 10:17–20

Photo by Leon Pauleikhoff / Unsplash

The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Luke 10:17–20, ESV

While I was in seminary, I became involved with a large prayer movement. In the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, a story came to my ears about a fellow worker of the faith. As he was preaching downtown, a man with a knife lunged at him, and the knife bent on his chest instead of piercing him. This is an extraordinary story, and I cannot verify its authenticity, but, like the sending out of the seventy-two, it may be a true sign of God’s protection. There are stories like this, but there are also stories like the man who went to an island in the Philippines that holds a tribe of people that have no contact with the outside world and do not desire contact. They are known to throw spears and fire arrows at helicopters and boats that come near. A missionary attempted to visit and was killed. Jesus warned us not to celebrate the protections that may be offered while attempting to share the Gospel but the fact that our names are “written in heaven.” The greatest miracle of our faith is exactly this reality. When we are in the faith and doing God’s work, we may receive supernatural protection, but this is not guaranteed. All demons and spirits are subject to the name of Jesus, but we are not to tempt them and leave ourselves open to them without clear guidance from our Lord. As many who have worshipped with poisonous snakes have found out, a bite from a venomous snake may kill you. Even Jesus warned not to tempt Father when He was taken to the highest point in Jerusalem, and Satan told Him to jump. It wasn’t a lack of faith that prevented Jesus from jumping, but because of His faith, He knew not to. As we walk in faith, we trust in God’s protection but are not to test God. Let us be faithful in all that we do and seek always to glorify Him.

Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.