The Italian Memorandum

“…the flaming arrows of the evil one”

(Ephesians 6:16, NEB)

While we compose this article, Leonard Elmore’s novel, Kill Shot, is being made into a major motion picture in the university town of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. As the title imports, death is a major theme of this production. But, apart from the entertainment industry, death occupies a significant place in human history. Turning the pages of the Holy Scriptures but twice, we are immediately confronted with death–death in the garden and death in the field (Romans 5:12; Genesis 4:8). Kill-shots, the Bible declares, have their origin in “evil,” and through “the evil one”(1 John 3:12).

It appears that there is Satanic objective in the universe. And, that objective is to cause man to sin; and, from this sin to bring death (James 1:15; 5:19-20). This matter of Satanic objective is a consistent theme throughout the Bible (Matthew 13:19; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:9). Luther wrote in one of his holy hymns, “For still our ancient foe Doth seek to work us woe; His craft and pow’r are great And armed with cruel hate” (A Mighty Fortress). D. Edmond Hiebert refers to Satan as, “the grand adversary of God and man” (The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, 755).

Yes, the Devil wants a kill-shot. It is for this reason that one should be concerned with the diabolical objective of the Devil. Satan seeks an opening now. His time is limited, and your time is limited. While arrows fly, take “the shield of faith” (Ephesians 6:16; 1 Peter 1:5), for he seeks a kill-shot today.

-Robert M. Housby