In Disguise

Even Satan tries to make himself look like an angel of light.     2 Corinthians 11:14

I saw a license plate this week that had the number 666*---. I thought to myself, “I would ask for a different plate! There’s no way I would ride around with that license plate on my car.”  When I told my husband about it, he said, “Well, maybe they had it made that way.” 

“I don’t think so; it looked like a regular car that you and I would drive.” I replied.

The number 666 has always represented evil, so wouldn’t that person’s car look, well, black or beat up or have evil bumper stickers? Of course in my mind evil was supposed to be easily recognizable, visible to any observer. Not always so, the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 11:14 that “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” Satan is dark and evil, light is good. So he disguises himself to be more appealing.

Sin is often that way. It appears to be pleasurable or “ok”, but in reality, it’s just Satan’s deception to blind an unbeliever to the truth of his need for Jesus. For a believer, he causes her to lose her joy and peace, maybe even her family and feel shame and regret. Many extramarital affairs start with compliments or “innocent” flirtations. Many people lose their careers over a choice to take money that “no one would miss.” Going out with friends is OK; you need to let off steam, but what happens when that occurs so often it takes you away from your family? You begin to want something else and become dissatisfied and discontent. Gossip can even be disguised as prayer requests!

So how do we know that something is a sin, even when it is disguised as something harmless or even good? Psalm 119:105 says “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” First of all, God’s word is THE first place for direction in our lives, the place to determine right and wrong. When we are full of God’s word, he will make the path clear. If you are still not clear on whether something is harmless or not, ask God. James 1:5 says, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you.” He will not rebuke you for asking.” It never fails, when I have asked God for wisdom in a matter, he always comes through. However, whether we listen or not is up to us. The Spirit of God is here to help us do the right thing. (John 14:26)

We as Christians have available to us the help we need to discern between good and evil. We have to listen and obey. It is so very important that we do. “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23.