What does C.S. Lewis have in common with Imagine Dragons? I’m sure most of you are familiar with Demons by Imagine Dragons. If not, prepare to be educated 😉
“When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide
Don’t get too close
It’s dark inside
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide…”
A few months ago, I finished reading The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis and, oddly enough, they strongly reminded me of these lyrics. In The Screwtape Letters, Screwtape is the undersecretary of Hell. And he’s a demon. The letters are sent to his nephew, who is relatively new at tempting people and leading them down the broad road to the wide gate. It is one of the most fascinating books you will ever read. It makes you so much more aware of the spiritual warfare going on around you—and of your own demons. In the book, every demon has a ‘patient,’ and they remain with their patient for the entirety of the patient’s life. Even after someone has been saved, the demon’s work isn’t finished in them.
“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”
1 Peter 5:8
Everyone is a target.
Demons are deceitful creatures. Sometimes, they sneak into your life without you even realizing it. They thrive on ignorance. Have you ever had a nasty thought? One that seemed to come out of the blue? I know sometimes I have those, and I hate it when that happens. In a way, it’s oddly comforting to know that it’s a demon tempting me; that way I have something I can fight against instead of whacking myself over the head, but this isn’t to say we aren’t responsible for our actions.
“You can’t keep birds from flying over your head,
but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
Temptation is inevitable–even Jesus was tempted–but what we do about that temptation isn’t. God gave us our free will, and we have a responsibility to use it wisely.
What do C.S. Lewis and Imagine Dragons have in common? They both knew where their demons hid. Watch out for Satan, and don’t allow him a single foothold in your life. Don’t allow a demon to manipulate your thoughts, but take every thought captive. Take a stand, and be aware of the darkness that surrounds you.
Where do your demons hide?
Hannah
March 5, 2016 - 4:40 pm ·This is a fantastic post! You are very right about the threat of temptation. Screw tape letters is one of my favorites, too. Keep it up!
Elizabeth Newsom
May 10, 2016 - 2:40 pm ·Thank you, Hannah! I didn’t see this comment until just now 😉