“And the Wicked One Does Not Touch Him”

“And the Wicked One Does Not Touch Him”

This is a most desirable state to be in: untouched by Satan at home and away from home, in prosperity and in adversity! What must a person do to be in that state? Only one thing: he must keep himself! As David says, “And I kept myself far from my iniquity.”

Unfortunately, the usual thing is that people are touched by Satan both often and much. Most of them are even greatly plagued by him. Even if they are not destroyed, they still suffer loss. However, when Satan touches a person, it is always because he has not kept himself. Of course he keeps himself in some measure, but not completely. Therefore he is also never completely untouched by Satan. He has not been very careful; he has not kept himself far from all sin, even from the least intimation of it.

All sinners claim that it does not matter so much; and that is precisely why God is not so particular when it comes to helping them and keeping them, and Satan is not so particular when it comes to sparing them. Consequently, people reap precisely what they have sown.

If you keep yourself from tasting the smallest drop of intoxicating drink, how will you possibly get drunk? If you keep yourself from the smallest unchaste thought, how will you possibly fall in adultery? If you keep yourself from the smallest transgression of other people’s property rights, how then will you possibly steal? If you keep yourself from the smallest strident sound, how could you possibly end up in strife or become argumentative?

Keep yourself from every little appearance of sin, and you will experience the truth of the word, “And the wicked one does not touch him.” Then you will truly be in a good state.