James 1:14—16; “14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.”
Deception is like solicitations we sometimes receive from credit card companies. A salesperson representing a bank will call and say, “I am happy to let you know that you qualify for our new Visa card. You’ve been approved for a limit of one lakh rupees and it would be our honor to send you the card today. You are a preferred customer.” That conversation would leave anyone feeling pretty good. “Oh, I’m worth one lakh rupees!” “Wow, I’m a preferred customer!” “I’m somebody!”
Here’s what the representative will not bother to tell us. They will not warn us that if we use the card to the limit, if we spend the one lakh rupees, if we take advantage of everything they offer, they will own us for the rest of our lives. They do not tell us that they levy a humongous interest rate on the balance charged on the card.
There are many people who are owned by Satan. He comes in the form of an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), and deceives us, and we fall prey to his schemes. What he doesn’t do is that he does not warn us that he will end up owning us. He captures us with a thought, then owns us with the thought. That is why the Bible admonishes us to, “8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world (1 Peter 5:8—9).”
Stephen Thomas (Bobby)
Stephen is an ordained Christian Minister and a Bible teacher who is a mentor to several youth leaders in Crossway Church and around the globe. He is a regular visiting Speaker in Crossway Church, New Delhi. He can be reached at stephenthomas6400@hotmail.com
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