Watchfulness Against Satan’s Deceptions
"ETERNAL vigilance is the price of liberty." This is no less true in political and civil life than in spiritual. "Be vigilant," "Watch thou in all things," "Watch and pray," "Watch unto prayer," "Watch and be sober," are all injunctions of Inspiration to the people of God. And Jesus our Lord says, "What I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." THERE is reason for watching. Peter says, "Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." This is Satan's attitude and disposition. He is seeking to devour souls. Unlike some beasts of prey, who kill to satisfy their needs, Satan is like those who kill to satisfy their ferocity. He devours because he loves to devour. He destroys souls as a business. Hatred, ferocity, cruelty, revenge, malignity, are elements in his disposition. BUT Satan does not show all his malevolent characteristics openly and boldly. He does not advertise his real designs. He is crafty as well as wicked. He is subtle, and shrewd, and sly, as well as cruel. He beguiled our first mother by his subtlety, and "deceiveth" in various ways "the whole world." He comes not as the prince of wickedness, but as an angel of light, clothed in his faded glory of over six millenniums ago, yet brighter still than man knows in mortal sphere. He comes, especially in these last days, "with all deceivableness of unrighteousness," and "with all power and signs and lying wonders." That is, the deceivableness of unrighteousness is making unrighteousness appear like righteousness. It is the counterfeit of the good. All deceivableness of unrighteousness is the counterfeit of all good. The "all signs and lying wonders" is the counterfeit of all miracles of God. The Egyptian magicians counterfeited the miracles of Aaron till the dust became lice, when they were forced to admit, "This is the finger of God." The prophets of Baal could not, in the presence of Elijah, bring fire down from heaven. But in the last days there will be the counterfeit of all miracles, even to the bringing down of fire from heaven in the sight of men. See Rev. 13:12. He who desires to see a sign as an evidence of the divinity of a doctrine may be accommodated by Satan. BECAUSE of these terrible deceptions God has given us the warning to watch, and to watch with diligence. Not only are we in danger from our fearful foes without, but from every tendency of the mortal flesh within. We must watch that the life of Christ reign in our mortal flesh; that every passion of the man, every desire of his being, whether seemingly good or bad, be submitted to Him who ruleth righteously. We must watch diligently to know that not one outpost of our being, not one corner of our heart, not one foot of the purchase of Christ's blood, be in possession of the enemy for one moment. His entrance is always sin. He may knock for admittance, he may beset the gates of the soul with sore siege; but it is not sin till the vigilance is relaxed, the gates yield, and the enemy enters. Sin then leaves its venom, and nothing but the blood of Christ can wash it free. The danger is not that Christ will not do this, but that the entrance of sin will so corrupt and pervert the heart's desires that we will never desire him to do it, will never ask him. The very nature of sin is to deceive; and, once admitted into the life, it poisons every sentiment and affection, and obscures and perverts every moral sense. The only safe way is to keep it out. THEN watch, diligently watch unto prayer. There is no time for ease, no time to rest off guard, no time for furloughs in the army of God. The soldier of Christ, except at the risk of eternal loss, cannot say, "I have fought hard; I will rest to-day in this bower of roses." He must find his joy in greater watchfulness for the Master, must find rest in greater vigilance. Even in his sleep he must be fortified to watch. "Thine shall be a watchful sleep,
Wearier than another's waking." BUT it is not discouraging to watch. It is not destruction of life and body. In the garden of watching Christ has kept vigil before. With every wakeful watcher he keeps vigil still; he will do it to the end. In all unceasing labor come new strength and power to prosecute the battle, new views of the wise and mighty Commander who is leading, new delights of rest in labor. Courage, soldier of God! Buckle on anew the armor. Rouse the energies by a keener sense of your fearful dangers. Rouse hope by a faith-look at the glorious reward before; and keep faith by your side by a constant study of the word of Him who declares, "Lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world." Christ hath made you free; stand fast in his liberty.