“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” I John 2:16)
The devil comes to us in many forms and knows exactly what will tempt us individually to ensnare us into his tangled web. And once he has his grip on us he will keep us there anyway he can.
He may come to us in the form of drugs, or alcohol. He knows they will harm us, but he appeals to the baser desires in us and whispers in our hearts it won’t hurt, but be warned, all sin hurts. And it looks so appealing wrapped in beautiful and enticing packaging, but underneath the glitz and the glitter is peril to our souls if we don’t immediately shun the sin. This is a subtle and ever so slight form of cunning the devil uses against man, but if we will go back and look at history we find many a person who succumbed and died having been drawn in to this all too pervasive and insidious evil.
Yesterday I read a tragic story of a couple, she being pregnant with their second child. In their use of meth they decided to turn the heat up on their two year old child, I believe that was the age, but nevertheless, the poor child died of heat exhaustion and authorities went on to say that if he had not died of that he would have died of starvation. This is what being stoned on drugs and alcohol is like. No care for anyone nor anything but the next fix. The couple now faces a 20 years to life prison sentence for the death of their child. I shudder to think if her baby now will be normal with that garbage having been in her system. Sin doesn’t just hurt us but others in the process.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (I Peter 5:8)
Satan may come to us in the form in evil associates. You can refer to the former paragraph and where evil companions can lead one. “Be not deceived”
Sunday afternoon in my area, two men went to the home of a couple pretending they were interested in buying a dog. Instead they forced their way into the couple’s home, injuring them. The homeowner shot and killed the home invaders. One was 49 and one 31. They now face eternity in this condition.
“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” (I Corinthians 15:33)
He may come to you in the form of a handsome man or a beautiful woman, enticing you to lust after them to commit either fornication or adultery with them. “Be not deceived.”
Satan may come to you in the form of the pride of knowledge and thinking you have arrived and have all knowledge. He will entice you by false teachers who won’t tell you the Truth of God’s Word but instead will tell you what you want to hear in the place of telling you what will save your soul. “Be not deceived.”
He will package your individual sin into what appeals to you personally. And the numbers are legion. “Be not deceived.”
“Lust of the Flesh” and all which pertains to it.
“Lust of the Eye” and all which pertains to them.
“The Pride of life” and all which pertains to it.
“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” II Corinthians 11:14-15
When one sits and ponders this one verse and thinks of the evil which comes from these three ways we are tempted, it should give us pause and cause us to be ever vigilant about all we do 24/7/365. It is very easy to be tempted and drawn away of our own lusts.
“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:13-15)
“The devil doesn’t come dressed in a red cape and pointy horns. He comes as everything you’ve ever wished for.” ~ Unknown
Eileen Light