When our boys were still living at home, it was customary to come home after church on Sunday night and each grab a plate of whatever was leftover from lunch. We then would gravitate to the den, where we could chill for an hour or so and watch something on television together. Each would fix what they wanted. I would pull up the rear and put the food away after I prepared my plate. I could usually hear the sounds of a ballgame in the midst of channel surfing. Just as I would step into the den the channel would change to some nature channel where some animal was being stalked by another. It was an obvious set-up to get my reaction to a lion or another tenacious animal stalking Bambi. It was inevitable the poor defenseless animal was going to become prey for the stronger one. Anytime I see one of those types of programs I am reminded of I Peter 5:8-9.
I Peter 5:8-9 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”
We, like the prey on nature shows, are being hunted all the time. If you are a Christian, Satan will not be satisfied until he can devour you. He is always crouching near enough to attack when he sees his opportunity. Peter warns of this in verse 8. Satan is always calculating his next move. He knows your weaknesses because of your behavior in the past. He is patient and will strike at your weakest moment. Don’t underestimate him, that is what he wants you to do. It is when we let our guard down that his attack will be most successful. We must know the truth and stay on guard to overcome the enemy.
Satan can appear to be something good, a counterfeit to lure you away from the real thing. He can transform himself into an “angel of light.” This phrase “angel of light” means a pure and holy angel. Light is the symbol of purity and holiness. Jesus is the Light in John 8:12 and John 9:15. Satan has the power to assume the appearance of whatever he chooses. However, just like the knock off purses I’ve seen, if you know the real deal you can tell the difference. We should always be on our guard weighing what others say or do against what God’s word says. If you don’t know the truth, a lie can deceive you easily. He never shows himself openly to be the spirit of evil, wickedness, or hatred, toward anything that is of God. If he did, we would not be so easily deceived. He will try to deceive us as being someone of virtue and full of religion.
II Corinthians 11:14 “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”
The only way to not be devoured by this patient, deceiving, crouching demon, is to train ourselves in the truth. We must know the truth of the word by studying and praying. God’s wisdom and knowledge are available to anyone who desires it, but it won’t come through osmosis. We must put effort into our relationship with God. We must get to know Him, not just know about Him.
As we are in the process, for the rest of our earthly lives, of getting to know God, we need to “walk circumspectly.” The word circumspectly in Ephesians implies to look all around, to carefully consider all the circumstances to avoid making the wrong choices. We are not to be as fools who live for the moment not considering the consequences of their actions. We are to be wise thinking of what would please God.
Ephesians 5:15 “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,”
We are not to be as the animal who is grazing along on the green pastures, paying no attention to the lurking lion. We are to be like the deer who stays alert, raising her head and turning her ears toward any noise. She stays in ready mode to move quickly to avoid danger. If she doesn’t the result could be death.
Don’t be a fool. Know the truth by studying the Bible in its context and then obey those truths.
Excellent