Let’s start with a glimpse into the future, as revealed in the book of Revelation:
“And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season,” (Revelation 20:1–3 KJV).
As we approach the end times, I believe evil will be unleashed in new and intense ways. Identifying our enemy is crucial. What seems to be Satan’s most common strategy today?
Looking at the world around us, it appears to be diversion. A distraction that pulls your attention away from what’s important, leading you off course without realizing it. You start with a clear direction, but a distraction enters, and suddenly, you’re no longer on the path you intended. This is Satan’s tactic.
The first recorded activity of the devil in human history reveals much about his methods:
“Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil,” (Genesis 3:1–6 KJV).
Adam and Eve were in a perfect state, with God’s law written on their hearts. They were in covenant with God, fully aware of His will. Yet, the devil’s strategy was to divert their focus. “Has God indeed said…” He planted a seed of doubt, shifting their attention from God’s clear command to questioning His motives and wisdom.
In verse 4, Satan’s subtle diversion is complete: “You will not surely die.” By the time we reach verse 6, Eve’s focus has shifted entirely from God’s word to the allure of the forbidden fruit. Her focus is now fully on the tree. The devil’s tactic of diversion had led her astray.
In Matthew 4, Jesus faced a similar tactic from Satan. Unlike Eve, Jesus was perfect, His mind fully aligned with God’s will. When tempted, Jesus immediately turned to Scripture, refusing to be diverted. Satan tried to divert Christ’s focus upon Himself, to demonstrate who He is and His power. Yet, His focus remained steadfastly on God’s word.
Today, the devil’s tactic of diversion is still at work. He uses our daily worries-money, family, church, depression-to distract us from God’s written word. While these concerns are real, they can also serve as distractions.
In a world where few people turn first to the Bible, Satan is having a field day. But we must resist. Our focus must be on what the Bible teaches, finding purity and simplicity in Christ.
Originally published at http://richbitterman.com on August 19, 2024.
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