Interest in the paranormal—that which is beyond the normal human realm—has exploded in recent years. These days our culture is filled with references to supernatural beings and supernormal powers. From horror movies dealing with exorcisms (casting evil spirits out of people), demonic possession (where evil spirits control people) or eerie mass murderers, to television programs about both good and bad spirits, to books and movies such as J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series that glorify certain aspects of the occult, to Gothic influences in music and dress—our culture is saturated with references to the spirit world.

What many don't realize is that the spirit world has been around for a long time. Our ancestors first encountered the paranormal approximately 6,000 years ago in the Garden of Eden when the chief of evil spirits, Satan the devil, appeared as a serpent to deceive Eve (Genesis 3). Sadly, after doing his evil deed, the serpent didn't crawl off in the grass and hibernate. Nor did Adam hunt him down and kill him. Satan is still alive today doing what he does best—deceiving "the whole world" (Revelation 12:9).

The evil spirit world is out to destroy us! But we don't have to be afraid because we can have help from our loving Creator who is far more powerful than all the evil spirits combined.

The Bible records a time when the king of Syria surrounded the prophet Elisha and his servant in the city of Dothan. The king was frustrated with Elisha because he, with God's help, had been successfully advising the king of Israel on how to avoid capture by the king of Syria. Elisha's servant awoke one morning, surprised and probably quite afraid when he saw Syrian troops surrounding the city.

In prayer, Elisha asked God to open his servant's eyes "'that he may see.' Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha" (2 Kings 6:17). Elisha's servant miraculously saw the spirit world that was there to deliver them. We hope you will likewise take comfort in this reality of the spirit world.