Be Aware Of Satan’s Tricks Pt 1 - Is Your Light Shining?

Anyone who suggests or thinks that we live in a ‘satan free’ world deceives themselves. Whilst we don’t live our lives guided by what he says or does, we ought to be aware of his existence and sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit who unveils his many tricks to us so that we can respond appropriately. It is important to observe that because we were under the control of the enemy, he knows a lot about us and as a result often attempts to ruin us via our weaknesses and this, notwithstanding that the weaknesses may not in themselves be bad. As times change, it appears satan’s strategy also gets more refined. Whilst seeming really subtle, it is more potent now than ever before. Sad also is the fact that more believers unwittingly yielding themselves for use by him against other believers making it easier to attack the church. We must be very careful and spiritually aware. This is not to say we should become spooky but we ought to be well informed so that we are equipped to deal as we live our daily lives focused on God. Satan’s many attempts in the believers life could be likened to ‘side shows’ which we deal with as we move on but they are not our focus. God already told us that satan exist who will keep attempting to ruin us with a view to ensuring that we live for him here on earth and end up in hell. No one can live for satan and be a light; and this, notwithstanding the number of times they are in church.

Mathew 5: 13 - 16 “You are the light of the world-like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

I think we may have misconstrued ‘good deeds’, as in scripture above, to mean ‘good overtures’ but it must be more than that because the unbelievers do those same ‘good overtures’ and yet they don’t shine as light. So there must be more to our good deeds that makes them shine. I have realized that though these “acts of kindness” or what I call “good overtures” are good, and we must be kind because as we know kindness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and an attribute of love; however, it takes much more for these acts to constitute the good deeds that shine. These deeds shine because of the life of God from which they are birth. Without the life of God, these deeds have no life and without life, they cannot constitute light. We cannot be so generous and yet be so full of wickedness and assume that our acts of kindness will constitute light. We cannot be so giving and yet so envious and lacking in contentment and then assume that we are living righteous lives. We must be honest with ourselves; it is time for some simple truth telling. The good deeds do not constitute light just because we are believers; they must be born of a righteous life so that they shine. The life is the light; and that life is the life of God. This is what demarcates the believer from the unbeliever. This is the light that chases darkness out. These dishonest means are not the right means to make our light shine. Sometimes our light goes out and we don’t even notice because we are still carrying on like believers.

John 1: 4 – 5 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it.”

1 John 1: 5b “God is light, and there is no darkness in Him at all.”

One thing I have observed from scriptures though is that a man may catch God’s attention with what I refer to as ‘good overtures’. God may then choose to fill such people with His life so that they can become light. We cannot afford to be deceived by the enemy. God is not as interested in the deeds as He is in the quality of the deeds. We don’t fight to make the quality right for Him; it is a result of an indwelling presence of God. Jesus said He only did His Father’s will here on earth but is that what we do? It is so easy to be deceived into thinking that one is on the right path just because they are focused on their good acts and so don’t realize that they no longer have the indwelling presence of God. Good acts are not the hallmark of the believer but a believer does ‘good’. The devil also knows this and also that man is so full of self that he loves to be called good so he lures us into this life without Christ but full of seemingly ‘good deeds”. It is therefore, incumbent upon us to check that our good deeds are born of the righteous life; for this is what counts and causes men to give God glory. Jesus is the light of the world and when we attempt ‘good’ by ourselves, we may appear to want to be light despite all our good intention. With all the best intentions in the world, we must be careful not to attempt to take the place of our Redeemer which is what satan wants us to do and has always wanted to do himself. If we choose Christ every time we make decisions, then we won’t have to walk in darkness.

John 8: 12 “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, ‘I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads you’.”