Deception is a serious issue in my book. I don’t tolerate it in my house. Lies, deception, hiding the truth, omission of details, twisting the truth all come with severe consequences. Joe and I regularly remind our kids that it damages relationships by breaking trust. While I detest deception, I know God abhors it the most. He stands in stark contrast to deceitful Satan.
Last week we discussed how
we are to expect spiritual warfare from Satan (the dragon) and use the full
armor of God to fight against him. This spiritual warfare will intensify as the
end of this world nears. The dragon, Satan, will have the power to wage war
against God’s people, but he won’t deceive them. Instead, he will deceive the
whole rest of the world.
Revelation 13:1-10 The dragon stood on the shore of
the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and
seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous
name. 2 The
beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of
a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great
authority. 3 One of
the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound
had been healed. The whole world was filled with
wonder and followed the beast. 4 People worshiped the dragon because he had
given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who
is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?”
5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its
authority for forty-two months. 6 It
opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling
place and those who live in heaven. 7 It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and
to conquer them. And it was given authority
over every tribe, people, language and nation.8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all
whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation
of the world.
9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.
10 “If anyone is to go into captivity,
into captivity they will go.
If anyone is to be killed with the sword,
with the sword they will be
killed.”
This calls for patient endurance and
faithfulness on the part of God’s people.
What’s
the distinction between Satan, through the beast, conquering and waging war
against God’ people versus deceiving them? I think it relates to physical
versus spiritual life and death. Satan is permitted to physically harm and even
kill God’s people, but he can’t deceive them into worshiping him over
worshiping God. If we genuinely belong to God, then we won’t be deceived by
Satan and won’t succumb to his deception. We will patiently endure and remain
faithful to God, even to the point of death, empowered by the Holy Spirit
living in us and confident in the promise of eternal life.
How will
you and I prepare to patiently endure and remain faithful to God, even in the
face of the dragon’s war against us? As we discussed last week, we are to use
all of God’s armor and resources, accompanied by continual prayer.
Ephesians
6:10-11 and 18 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the
devil’s schemes...
18 And pray in the Spirit on all
occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind,
be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
As we actively access Jesus's mighty power,
we can be protected from Satan's deception.
