This year I will celebrate a landmark birthday. Suddenly birthdays have become less than exciting. But all these years have given me one thing that I find invaluable, at least now that I am past them—a boatload of experiences. In fact, you may be getting tired of hearing about them.
Here is one that struck me just the other day: I now need more than two hands to count the number of times a Christian has told me about having his horoscope read, having a tarot card reading, or going to a palm reader—“just to see what it’s like”—and have him tell me how astounded he was. “I know it isn’t real, but it was so close, it was uncanny.”
And do you think Satan is going to allow them to be so far off that you won’t even be tempted to believe in them? Really now, Satan is not that stupid. But sometimes I wonder about us! Excuse me, I guess the word should be “gullible,” or perhaps the more politically correct “naïve.” Solomon was not nearly so concerned about being PC. The word he used when a child of God put himself into a position to be deceived was “fool.”
Because deception is what surely follows if we are not careful. This “uncanny” ability to be so accurate (we think) draws us closer and closer, until finally we are relying on those things more than God, and eventually instead of God. Yes, it can happen to you. I have heard Christians I thought were strong tell me they could not make a decision until they had read their horoscopes for the day.
And you know what is even scarier? When it becomes obvious that we want to rely on these things instead of God, He will allow it. And for this cause God sends them a working of error, that they should believe a lie, that they might all be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness, 2 Thes 2:11,12. He considers all such things “idolatry” because they are more important to the person than He is, and “adultery” because that person has been unfaithful to Him. This is a serious matter. That is another way Satan can get to you. He will tell you it is just a fun little pastime. Read Ezekiel 16 sometime today and see exactly how God depicts this “harmless” recreation. I will judge you as women who commit adultery and murder are judged, and I will bring upon you the blood of wrath and jealousy, Ezek 16:38.
So think about it today. What are we doing that seems harmless but that could have dire consequences if we let it go to its natural end? Satan has dozens of beautifully crafted lures to draw us in, set the hook, and catch us before we even realize we are in danger. He is not so stupid that he will make the traps obvious. Be careful out there today. Rely on God and Him alone. Be faithful to Him and He will never be unfaithful to you.
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ. And no marvel, for even Satan fashions himself into an angel of light. It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works, 2 Cor 11:13-15.
Dene Ward
Here is one that struck me just the other day: I now need more than two hands to count the number of times a Christian has told me about having his horoscope read, having a tarot card reading, or going to a palm reader—“just to see what it’s like”—and have him tell me how astounded he was. “I know it isn’t real, but it was so close, it was uncanny.”
And do you think Satan is going to allow them to be so far off that you won’t even be tempted to believe in them? Really now, Satan is not that stupid. But sometimes I wonder about us! Excuse me, I guess the word should be “gullible,” or perhaps the more politically correct “naïve.” Solomon was not nearly so concerned about being PC. The word he used when a child of God put himself into a position to be deceived was “fool.”
Because deception is what surely follows if we are not careful. This “uncanny” ability to be so accurate (we think) draws us closer and closer, until finally we are relying on those things more than God, and eventually instead of God. Yes, it can happen to you. I have heard Christians I thought were strong tell me they could not make a decision until they had read their horoscopes for the day.
And you know what is even scarier? When it becomes obvious that we want to rely on these things instead of God, He will allow it. And for this cause God sends them a working of error, that they should believe a lie, that they might all be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness, 2 Thes 2:11,12. He considers all such things “idolatry” because they are more important to the person than He is, and “adultery” because that person has been unfaithful to Him. This is a serious matter. That is another way Satan can get to you. He will tell you it is just a fun little pastime. Read Ezekiel 16 sometime today and see exactly how God depicts this “harmless” recreation. I will judge you as women who commit adultery and murder are judged, and I will bring upon you the blood of wrath and jealousy, Ezek 16:38.
So think about it today. What are we doing that seems harmless but that could have dire consequences if we let it go to its natural end? Satan has dozens of beautifully crafted lures to draw us in, set the hook, and catch us before we even realize we are in danger. He is not so stupid that he will make the traps obvious. Be careful out there today. Rely on God and Him alone. Be faithful to Him and He will never be unfaithful to you.
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ. And no marvel, for even Satan fashions himself into an angel of light. It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works, 2 Cor 11:13-15.
Dene Ward
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