Why Demons Tremble

C. S. Lewis mentioned “two equal and opposite errors” into which we can fall in regard to demons. “One is to disbelieve in their existence,” he said. “The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.”

The biblical writer James doesn’t have an excessive interest in demons, but he does mention them to make the case that faith without deeds is dead. A passive intellectual belief that doesn’t result in action is as lifeless as a chunk of granite. Rich Mullins’ classic song says it well: faith without works is “about as useless as a screen door on a submarine.” With a touch of sarcasm, James drives home the point: “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder” (James 1:19).

Why do the demons shudder? (The Greek word translated “shudder” is a rare term that means to tremble, shake, or bristle, as when one’s hair stands on end.) I can think of several reasons the devil’s minions would get goosebumps.

For one thing, they recognize that God is real. No one should trust the fine points of demonic theology, but they’re right about one thing: God is not a superstitious myth or a figment of our imagination. He is not a fictitious father figure invented by wimpy human beings because we need a religious crutch. Even the demons have to admit the truth of Deuteronomy 6:4: “The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” God truly exists and his power is real.

Further, I suspect the demons sense that Satan’s defeat is sure. How can the devil’s servants feel secure? Their cause is a failure, and so is their boss. “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work” (1 John 3:8). The powers of darkness are no match for the Father of light. Jesus cast out demons simply by saying the word (Matthew 8:16). He boldly intervened with a fellow Satan had turned into a terrifying, chain-breaking, cemetery-dwelling monster; and the man’s changed life offered calm, undeniable testimony to the transforming power of God (Mark 5:l-20). Another time Jesus healed a woman who had been bent over and “crippled by a spirit for eighteen years,” freeing her from Satan’s bondage (Luke 13:10-17). At the cross Jesus confronted the forces of evil “so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14). The demons ought to tremble; their evil leader is headed for a never-ending swim in Burning Sulfur Lake (Revelation 20:10).

Finally, I suppose the demons tremble because they realize their *personal responsibility is unavoidable. *The demons shake because they haven’t surrendered. They are literally playing with fire when they acknowledge that God exists but stubbornly refuse to submit their will to him. They have anchored their destiny to the Father of Lies, but ultimately, they are accountable to the God of Truth.

This is a sober warning. It’s foolish to give lip-service to God’s existence while refusing to acknowledge his authority. We believe God exists? Good! That’s pretty much a self-evident truth. But do we love God? Do we believe him enough to obey him and serve him? Or are we trying to get by with a flimsy faith that says “I believe,” but hears a clear command from God and says “I won’t”?