The devil is all about substitutes and alternatives (substitute facts, alternative news, and bogus knowledge). The real thing makes him nervous because it exposes his evil schemes. The devil tempts us to sin because the more followers he can get, the more it looks like he has a workable plan—an actual reason to exist.
Remember, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil became the flash point in humanity’s defection from godliness. The struggle was over knowledge—false knowledge versus true knowledge and trust in God.
Satan’s Plans
“Satan seeks to bring us into temptation, that the evil of our characters may be revealed before men and angels, that he may claim us as his own” (Mount of Blessing, p. 116). In other words, the devil’s got our “number” and will use it against us in any way he can.
The devil wants to force us to follow his ways, and he seeks to accomplish this with false knowledge and misinformation.
What we see happening in our government regarding elected officials lying, cheating, and covering up facts is a demonstration of the devil’s principles at work.
We will be led into temptation over and over again and fail miserably if we neglect to embrace the truth about God and ourselves.
O God, “do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen” (Matthew 6:13, NKJV).
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Rich DuBose writes from Northern California.
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