Companionship is also essential when we are under attack. A man alone must have sufficient strength to resist his enemy unaided.
Where is this more important than in facing the enemy of souls, the devil? Facing him without Christ we are truly alone, for we stand against one with powers so vast, we can hardly take them in. We stand against one who hates us with undying intensity, driven by his detestation of God himself. Since we are made in the image of God, Satan regards any harm done to us as a blow struck against God himself. His aim is to disfigure the image of God in us as much as he is able, to drag down the whole human race down to hell if he can. He is incapable of compassion or kindness, and all appeal to mercy is pointless. He will always take advantage of us no matter how we approach him. He is ruthless, deceitful, cruel, relentless, and entirely set on our destruction. He works for the most part unseen, taking advantage of human ignorance, and knowing our weaknesses better than we know ourselves. What can we do against such a tyrant? What help can other human beings be to us? They are as much in his power as we are. 'On earth is not his fellow'. All thought of prevailing against him, by one or many, is a dream. But with Jesus Christ for us, who can be against us? We can be confident, and Satan trembles before the Lord. He knows he has met his match in Christ, for the Lord has already defeated him in open battle on the cross. 'Having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it'.