Okay, so your old pal Doc Brown has come through and built a time machine. Only this time it’s not built out of a DeLorean, but out of a phone. The catch is you can leave a voicemail to your younger self, but you only have time to leave a single “two word” message.

What do you say?

I know what I’d say. I’d say

RESIST SATAN

I can only imagine what my reaction would be today if I checked my phone and saw that I had a message from the future…from myself…and those were the two words I heard.

I would probably become a nervous wreck. With every decision I was faced with, I’d ask myself “Is doing this what Satan wants?” I would scratch my head and think “Is this what God wants or not? Should I do this or not?” How could I commit to anything with such a cryptic warning message? I’d worry constantly about whether or not I was truly resisting Satan, or playing right into his hands.

Of course, time machines aren’t real, but that doesn’t mean that Satan isn’t out there trying to lead you astray and convince you to do what he wants and not what God desires. Fortunately, you have the means to resist Satan right in your possession.

And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Matthew 4:9-10

Three times Satan tempted Christ, and three times he was rebuffed. On the third time Satan point-blank offered Jesus the whole world. All He had to do was worship at his ungodly feet. Jesus, as He had done twice before, resisted Him using the tool that we can use today: The Word of God (“it is written…”).

I don’t need to wonder whether or not a decision I make will help or hurt Satan. I can use the Word of God as my template. The Bible will always steer us toward the Will of the Lord, and away from Satan’s reach.