"A False Light"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

"A False Light"

    If we could have a sit down with Satan, directly conversing with him (not recommended!), what would he want to discuss?  Upon first consideration, we might suspect he would direct all attention to himself.  Certainly he would get around to that favorite subject .  However, the devil's initial topic would involve God.  He would seek to distort our understanding of the Lord, presenting false notions about Him in the attempt to lead us away from faith and devotion to the living and true Lord Jesus Christ.

    "Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?… And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die, for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:1; 4-5).

    We may suspect that our spiritual enemies' most damaging assault upon the human race would be to foment atheism or agnosticism.  While they may have some involvement in that regard, the truth of the matter is that Satan and his demonic cohorts are not atheists or agnostics.  "The devils believe and tremble" (James 2:19).  Atheism and agnosticism seem to be far more human constructs than devilish.  Thus, Satan most often seeks to more portray God in a false light to human hearts, as opposed to no light at all.  Indeed, to redeem a soul from false religion involves a far greater work than rescue from no religion at all.  The Apostle Paul warned the Corinthians of such danger: "For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit which ye have not received, or another gospel which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him" (II Corinthians 11:4).  As in the aforementioned discourse with Eve, the devil misrepresents the truth about the Lord Jesus in both direct and subtle distortions that can easily lead us astray if we fail to keep our guard against his ongoing attempts to deceive us.

    "Am I thinking rightly about God?  Are my beliefs and convictions Biblical, as illuminated by the Holy Spirit?  Or have I succumbed to the devilish influences that continually seek to distort my understanding of the Lord Jesus and His working in my life?"  Every born again believer must keep these questions in heart and mind.  Thankfully, we don't have sit downs with Satan.  We do, however, encounter his deceiving influences along the pathways of life.  Failure to realize the danger means we are already deceived.  Thus, we must be wary and aware of the possibility that our some of our perspectives may fail to meet the test of Scriptural truth and authenticity.  We must also be alert to our spiritual enemies' ongoing attempt to distort our understanding of God.   The devil and his minions don't rest in seeking to deceive.  We must not rest in seeking our Lord's protection, and when necessary, His correction.

"Be sober, be vigilant because your adversary the devil walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."

(I Peter 5:8)

"Search me, o God, and know my heart.  Try me and know my thoughts.  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

(Psalm 139:23-24)

Weekly Memory Verse

   "Be sober, be vigilant because your adversary the devil walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."

(I Peter 5:8)

  

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