Satan ever seeks to
foment illusion that leads to delusion.
Referred to in
Scripture as “the god of this world,” our enemy empowers a vast system of
deceiving influences, using images, ideas, innuendo and intrigue to present
notions to our minds that may begin as mere whims, but which can result in grave
darkness leading to countless negative spiritual, moral and physical pathologies
in our lives (II Corinthians 4:4).
“If therefore the
light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew
6:23).
The devil primarily targets
born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ with deception and
distraction. He has already
“blinded the minds of them which believe not” (II Corinthians 4:4). Thus, we expect such ones to possess
minds full of strange, perverse and destructive notions. Christians, however, should expect to
“walk in the light as He is in the light” (I John 1:7). We have the indwelling Holy Spirit, the
Bible, and the influence of fellow believers to keep our hearts and minds
illuminated. Satan wars against us
nevertheless, allowed by God to tempt us with darkness in order to provide
opportunity for greater availing ourselves of Divine light.
Do we recognize the
workings of our enemy, and the proclivity of our flesh to respond to his
deceptions? If so, a question must
often present itself to our minds about God, life, people, circumstances,
events, and ourselves. “Is what I am believing true? Or have I responded to the lies of the
world, the flesh (including my own) and the devil?” We best respond to this question with
the request voiced by the Psalmist, who wisely recognized his susceptibility to
deception, and more importantly, the only One who could deliver him…
“Search me, o God, and know my
heart. Try me and know my
thoughts. See if there be any
wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
(Psalm 139:23-24)
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