 |
|
Vol. 11 No. 12 December 2009 |
Page 4 |
|
|
Vol. 11 No. 12 December 2009 |
Page 4 |
Tim Childs
The Holy Scriptures gives us insight into the person, work and final end of Satan. Friend, you don’t want to be on his team when the clock runs out. It is impossible to fully fathom just how disadvantaged we would be living in this world without the Book of all books, the Holy Scriptures. The centuries old proverb “forewarned is forearmed” has an application for us having the revelation of God concerning His evil rival and our enemy, Satan. In the context, Paul indicated he had forgiven a penitent brother, “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Corinthians. 2:11). You and I cannot afford to be ignorant either.
Revelation 12:7-17 and other Bible passages give information about Satan bringing his battle against God and His people to the earth. Satan and his horde failed to defeat Michael and the angels of light, and they were thus permanently cast out of heaven. “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:9). “Deceiveth” is defined by Thayer’s lexicon as “to cause to stray, to lead astray,” and further it is used metaphorically “to lead away from the truth, to be led into error.” Who is leading you? Which direction are you being led?
First, Satan deceives people into thinking they are their own masters and they totally control their own destinies. Some of us, simply put, just want to do our own thing. We don’t want anyone telling us what we can or can’t do. While Satan promises people freedom if only they will reject God, he never has and never will make good on his promise. Satan’s brand of “freedom” is captivity of the worst and most devastating kind. “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 6:16). Although he may be fooled into thinking he is, man will never be his own master. We will be either under the influence of Satan, the Prince of Darkness, the Prince of Death, or under the influence of Jesus, the Prince of Life, the Prince of Peace.
Second, Satan deceives people into thinking that he is their friend and faithful ally, and that he’ll be there to deliver them during their time of trouble. Why is there pain, sickness, drunkenness, death, murder, robbery, rape, divorce, hate, war, lying, fornication, adultery, etc.? Who is the sponsor of this evil and terror? Did you say he was your friend? With friends like that, who needs enemies?
When a person acts on the prompting of Satan, there may be a fleeting moment of pleasure, but more often than not, it is quickly followed by trouble and shame. Satan is so skillful in his art of deception that while he is destroying our lives and those we care about most, he has us thinking that he is our best friend. When has Satan really delivered you in a time of trouble? When has he stood with you graveside to comfort your grieving heart after he had taken your loved one at the hands of an evildoer? No, he stands in the shadows in the distance and laughs at you because he still has you fooled. No, even if Satan was so inclined, he cannot deliver you in your time of trouble because he cannot even deliver himself from his own condemnation. Satan is a liar, the father of lies, and desperately wants you to join him in hell. There will be no celebration party there!
God has given us his very best – the gift of his only begotten Son (John 3:16). God loves you and seeks your welfare since He has your best interest at heart. His commandments are not burdensome, and Jesus will help you bear your cross. Hear and obey the Word of truth right away before it is too late for your soul.