Sadly, the old cliché that people start believing in anything when they cease to believe in God rings all too true. Today, the market for so-called spirituality is booming. Vast sums of money are spent on New Age therapies and books which promote the practice of magic. Even within the mainstream media, witches and wizards are being interviewed and are often given a sympathetic hearing. However, far from being harmless escapism or an alternative path to truth and enlightenment, the practice of magic draws upon demonic energy and will prove destructive to all who are foolish enough to involve themselves in it.
People who practise magic seek to bring about supernatural change through spells and incantations. Witches, wizards and the like seek to control the spirits around them and exploit them for their own ends. However, in reality they themselves are being controlled by forces far more powerful and malevolent than they realise. The effects upon a person’s life are devastating. Short term consequences of occult involvement may include severe mental illness; in the longer term, those who practice magic arts will be lost for all eternity (Revelation 21:8).
The Bible not only tells us that there is a God, but also makes it clear that there are vast ranks of spiritual beings, unseen to us, but very involved in the affairs of this world. For instance, angels minister in unperceived ways to those who follow God through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:14). On the other hand, sinister forces oppose the purposes of God. These are agents of Satan and will happily enslave anyone who dabbles with the occult, until they are completely captive to the Devil’s will.
Ironically, the pathway to true spiritual power comes through the surrender of our will to God. One of the reasons why the Son of God came into the world was in order to destroy the works of Satan (1 John 3:8); this He did through His work on the cross (Hebrews 2:14).When God raised Jesus from the dead, He exalted Him above every spiritual power and dominion (Ephesians 1:20-21). Declaring that Jesus is Lord brings us salvation (Romans 10:9) and will mean that we receive the Holy Spirit, against whom no demonic power can stand. Christians don’t put their trust in spells, potions or magic crystals, but in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Hand your life over to Him today and begin to experience the power of God working within you.
