Articles
Satan and the Deceitfulness of Sin
SATAN AND THE DECEITFULNESS OF SIN
(by R.J. Evans)
"But exhort one another daily, while it is called 'Today,' lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." (Hebrews 3:13)
The devil is a deceiver (Rev. 12:9; 20:10). Paul told the Corinthians that "Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light" (2 Cor. 11:14). Thus, it is not surprising that he presents himself and sin in a good light. He can make sin appear so appealing and pleasurable (Heb. 11:25). By tempting us in this manner and enticing us to sin, he has accomplished his purpose. Therefore, may we constantly pray, study, learn and apply God's word, "lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices" (2 Cor. 2:11).
When Satan tempted David to commit adultery with Bathsheba, it must have not seemed like such a terrible thing at the moment. After all, he was the King and could do whatever he desired. But that sin brought on other sins – attempts to "cover up" the sin, getting Uriah drunk and ultimately having him killed (murdered) in battle. Then all those sins together brought on the death of the son of David and Bathsheba, gave occasion for the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, and caused God to declare "the sword shall never depart from your house." Think of all those funerals and the many years of heartbreak (2 Sam. 11-18). Surely, this is an illustration of the truthfulness of what is stated in Galatians 6:7: "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap."
Most of the people of Judah must have not been too concerned about their sins during the forty years that Jeremiah sought to help turn them back to God in repentance. They rebelled and refused to change. But a careful reading of the five chapters of Lamentations tell us that they had a change of attitude after the fall of Judah, the destruction of the Temple, and being carried away into captivity in the foreign land of Babylon.
King Belshazzar, the son of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, was surely not too concerned about his sins as he had a drunken party drinking wine from the sacred vessels of the Jewish temple. But it certainly looked different to him after Daniel interpreted and announced for him the meaning of the handwriting on the wall, which indicated the fall of his kingdom. "That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom" (Dan. 5:30-31).
The rich man of Luke 16, surely didn't take seriously the teachings of the Law and the prophets as he "fared sumptuously every day" and ignored Lazarus at his gate "desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table" (Vv. 19-20). It was totally different, however, after the rich man died and was tormented in Hades. We are told of his begging Abraham to have mercy and send Lazarus, who was comforted in Abraham's bosom, "that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in these flames" (V. 24). He was no longer a rich man; he was now a beggar, outside the reach of mercy and salvation.
Oh, that people would look upon their sins now, in the way in which they will have to consider them later, after it is too late. Oh, that people would take seriously the warnings of the Bible and confess Christ now, as they will eventually do when it is too late – "every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God" (Rom. 14:11). Oh, that sinners would obey and do God's will now, and not wait until it is too late. How sobering to think of being deceived by Satan and sin, and on the day of judgment, hear these words- "depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness'!" (Matt. 7:21-23). Oh, the tragedy of deception – "And these will go away into everlasting punishment" where "There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matt.25:30,46).
