“But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” ~ 2 Corinthians 11:3 NKJV
An often overlooked sign of the end times is spiritual deception (1 Tim. 4:1-2). The election fraud and QAnon conspiracies are notable examples. In order to understand how Satan deceives Christians today, we should take a trip back to the garden in Genesis chapter three. This precious portion of Scripture reveals the devil’s very first interaction with a human being. Let’s start with verse one:
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
Please notice that Satan’s very first utterance to a human being was a question designed to create doubt about what God said. Our enemy’s initial tactic against us is to call into question the word of God. “Had God indeed said…?” Satan implies doubt as to our understanding of God’s word. He also hints at the idea that God is being too strict because He forbids them from enjoying the fruit from all the trees in the garden. “Did God actually say you’re not allowed to eat from all of the trees?” The correct answer would have been, “Yes, that’s what God said, so get behind me Satan!”
Instead, she responds, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
In Genesis 2:17, God’s original command didn’t mention anything about touching the fruit of the tree. Obviously, it’s difficult to eat the fruit without touching it, but let’s not add to or subtract from the commands of God (Deut.4:2). Satan’s initial question seems to cast doubt on the goodness of the LORD, as if God is holding back on them. And Eve’s response to the question indicates she’s starting to accept the hint that maybe God is being too strict. “Not only can’t we eat of the fruit on that particular tree, God said we can’t even touch it!” Her openness to dialogue with the devil provided the perfect setup for deception.
Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
After asking a question to create doubt regarding what God said, Satan now offers an alternative to what God said. He boldly asserts his first lie to a human being, “You will not surely die.” He follows up his lie with a benefit, “If you eat the fruit, your eyes will be opened and you’ll know good and evil, just like God Himself.” After contradicting the plain and simple command of God, the devil appeals to her senses. There’s a reason why we’re told to trust in God and not lean on our own understanding (Pro.3:5).
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate.
And hence the fall. Whenever we downplay the word of truth and make decisions based upon our senses or feelings, we become easy pickings for the great deceiver. Did Eve feel that way about the fruit before her encounter with the devil? I think not. Before she was tricked by Satan, she regarded the fruit as off-limits. What caused the change in her attitude? Via cunning deception, Satan led her from considering what God said about the fruit to the place where she’s considering how she feels about the fruit. It’s no longer off-limits. She now sees the forbidden fruit as good and pleasant and desirable to make one wise.
Decisions based upon our feelings instead of the plain and simple commands of God seldom turn out good. We may think we’re doing the right thing, but in reality, our senses can lead us astray. Per the Bible, our hearts are wicked and deceitful, and our flesh is dumb (Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 7:18)! As a result, many deceived people all over the world walk the broad way that leads to destruction (Matt.7:13). Please note that this passage in Genesis is not an example of open rebellion against the Lord; this is an example of seduction and deception - that’s recorded for our learning according to Romans 15:4.
So, what have we learned? Satan deceived Eve by first calling into question what God said. Then he offered her an alternative to what God said. And finally, he led her into making a decision based upon her senses instead of what God said. We can't afford to be ignorant of his devices (2 Cor.2:11), because he employs the same tactics against Christians today.
Now let’s consider a modern-day example of Satan’s deception. What type of person should Christians elect for public office? What does the word of God say about who we should support with our vote? Well, there’s no particular verse in the Bible that tells us exactly who to vote for. However, we do have a biblical principle that guides how we should vote. Exodus 18:21 tells us, “Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness [dishonest gain]; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.” Regardless of whether we are electing a ruler of tens, a ruler of fifties, a ruler of hundreds or a ruler of thousands, they should all meet the same moral qualifications. No exceptions. Let them be able or capable, such as fear God, truthful and honest, hating dishonest gain. That’s the plain and simple command of God.
So, how does Satan deceive us today? He calls into question Exodus 18:21. He whispers, “Does God really expect you to only support people of such high moral standards? Be realistic, very few candidates can live up to those standards!” He then offers an alternative to God’s word. “Don’t focus on character. Cast your ballot according to political party. In other words, vote by policy not principle.” When party and policy are elevated above character, that’s a sure pathway to corruption. Satan's deception is complete if he can involve our senses and emotions - while simultaneously discounting God's word. Like Eve in the garden, we set ourselves up for a fall when we ignore the word of God and make decisions based upon our feelings. The evil one is delighted when we rely on our feelings as we cast our ballot.
This is where racism in America comes into play, because racism triggers all kinds of emotions. Consider this one fact. Only two generations ago, southern Blacks were basically blocked from voting due to poll taxes, literacy tests, and other barriers. However, after Democratic President Lyndon Johnson signed into law the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which removed these barriers to voting, Black folks overwhelmingly joined the Democratic Party. What did White southerners do in response? They shifted en masse from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party. Before 1950, almost 80% of Whites in the South identified as Democrats, the party that supports social and economic equality. Today, it's down to around 30%. What caused the shift?
What’s the outcome of ignoring Exodus 18:21? We can look to Israel for the answer. The chosen people of God disobeyed Yahweh. They turned their backs on God (Jeremiah 32:33). Consequently, both their spiritual leaders and their political leaders became corrupt. Take a careful look at the deceived citizens of Israel just before their fall to Babylon in 586 B.C. God's faithful prophet tells us in Ezekiel 22:23-31,
And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, say to her: ‘You are a land that is not cleansed or rained on in the day of indignation.’ The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured people; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain. Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD GOD,’ when the LORD had not spoken. The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger. So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord God.
Unfortunately, that sounds a lot like America today! Satan is working overtime to deceive us just like he deceived the people of Israel. The whole nation was corrupt, from top to bottom, from prophets to priests to princes to people. When spiritual leaders become materialistic and fail to distinguish between truth and lies, the people will follow suit and all manner of corruption breaks out. The poor and needy were mistreated. The "stranger" or person of a different race was wrongfully oppressed. The “princes” of Israel were her political leaders. They became like wolves, destroying the people in order to secure dishonest gain.
The Bible tells us “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Tim.6:6). And a few verses later in the same chapter we find, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Is this why Exodus 18:21 commands us to elect truthful leaders who hate dishonest gain? Everyone knows all too well that the love of money causes all kinds of evil. That was the case 2500 years ago in Israel, that’s still the case in America today. The deceived citizens of Israel rejected the LORD and the entire nation suffered greatly because of their disobedience.
In closing, how does Satan deceive Christians today? He calls into question the word of God. He then offers alternatives to God’s word. And lastly, he leads us to make decisions based upon our feelings instead of based upon the plain and simple commands of God. As we enter into these perilous end times (2 Tim.3:1-5), I urge you to put on the whole armor of God, “lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” ~ 2 Corinthians 11:3 NKJV
Grace, Peace and Jahspeed.
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