The moment you commit your life to Jesus, you not only experience a spiritual transformation, but you also step into a spiritual battle. In the same instant that you choose to follow Christ, you automatically become a target for the enemy, Satan. The enemy thrives in darkness and sin, but when you choose the light of Christ, your commitment becomes a direct challenge to the forces of evil. This is a truth illustrated powerfully in the life of Job in Job 1:4-12.

the moment you commit to God, you open yourself to spiritual opposition. Satan is always watching for opportunities to attack those who belong to God, and just as he challenged Job’s faithfulness, he will try to undermine your commitment to Christ. Satan wants to sow doubt, test your trust in God, and make you question your faith, especially when you experience suffering or loss.

In Job 1:11, Satan dares God, “But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” Satan’s accusation suggests that Job’s commitment is conditional on his prosperity, implying that if Job loses everything, he will abandon God. God allows Satan to test Job’s faith, but He sets limits: “Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” (Job 1:12). This exchange shows that while Satan can bring trials and suffering into a believer’s life, he is always under God’s control. Nothing can happen to you without God’s permission.

The story of Job serves as a reminder that your commitment to Christ will be tested. When you decide to follow Jesus, you enter into a spiritual battle where your faith will be challenged. Satan will try to tempt you, accuse you, and create doubt in your heart. But this doesn’t mean you are alone. Just as God allowed Job’s faith to be tested, He also provided for Job’s perseverance. Even in the worst of circumstances, Job maintained his faith, saying, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” (Job 1:21).

Job’s unwavering commitment to God, even in the face of extreme suffering, demonstrates what true faith looks like. Your commitment to Jesus is not a shield that prevents trials, but it is the foundation that helps you stand firm through the trials. In Ephesians 6:10-11, Paul encourages believers to put on the full armor of God so they can stand against the schemes of the devil. When you commit your life to Jesus, you are called to endure hardship, but you are not without strength. God equips you with the armor you need to resist the enemy’s attacks.

Satan's goal is to destroy your faith and lead you away from God, but your commitment to Christ is your victory over him. The testing of your faith refines you, strengthens your relationship with God, and deepens your trust in His goodness and sovereignty. As James 1:12 reminds us, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”

Just as Job was tested and emerged victorious, your commitment to Jesus will be tested, but you too can stand firm, knowing that God is in control and that His purposes for your life are good. Even when Satan tries to attack, remember that no weapon formed against you will prosper (Isaiah 54:17). With God’s strength and grace, you can overcome every challenge and emerge stronger in your faith. The moment you commit your life to Jesus is the same moment you become a target of the enemy, but it is also the moment you are empowered by the Holy Spirit to stand firm and victorious in Christ.