God’s Devil - Points to Ponder, Part 9

THE FALSE ANGEL OF LIGHT

The continual deception by the evil one toward mankind is remarkably successful in the lost soul because there may not exist within that soul any understanding of scripture or preaching that allows defense. Prayer itself may not even be evident in the internal life of one lost. These are easy marks for the serpent.

The attacks of Satan against the saved are (and should be) much more difficult to succeed for those who have accepted Christ have generally sat under strong preaching and have at least some grasp of the holy commands of the written word. But, as Paul warns, all is not always well among the saved in this regard.

2nd Cor 11:14-15:

“... for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light … Therefore it is no  great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness.”

The great deceiver is not afraid to imitate God, to entice men to error, and draw them closer to himself for greater temptation to come. When it serves his purpose, the evil one does not hesitate to dress in religious clothes. The faithful must continue to refine their capacity to judge these moments  because the opportunities of deception are more numerous today than ever more. Explosions of false doctrine in our media world and the web are growing more dangerous. 

False prophets (preachers and teachers) were clearly evident in the days our Lord walked the earth. Jesus spoke of this evil one as the “father of lies” (John 8:44). These false ones then and now seek to lead believers away from revealed truth. The great liar has as one of his primary objectives to weaken the Word and to douse the flame of truth.

John was stronger in his warning of 1st John 4:1-3:

“Beloved, believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God  because false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist...”.

The very foundations of faith are eroding from the work of this evil one. The truth of faith is being obscured and commanded moral conduct is challenged. The enemy of light works intensely against the faith, attacking it both externally and internally with false teachers of every kind. Deception by camouflage remains a danger to us.

RESTING ON THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD IS OUR REFUGE