The Ways of the Enemy: Counterfeit-The Way
This is the second of three posts on The Ways of the Enemy. Last week we looked at what an opportunist he is. This week we consider how he is a counterfeit to Jesus as the Way, and next week we will discover that he is truly a counterfeit to Jesus as Truth and Life.
One clear, sunny, breezy Florida day, the sky was alive with a host of large, beautiful soaring birds. Elegant and graceful, they looked, at first glance, like eagles. But further observation revealed the truth: they were vultures.
We have an enemy who is always seeking to deceive us. He comes in disguise, masquerading as God Himself. He challenges us to put God’s truth to the test. Can you really believe Him? He dares to offer a counterfeit that looks like the truth, but is really a lie.
One of Jesus’ most comprehensive statements about Himself appears in John 14:6: “I am the way and the truth and the life….”
Often Satan disguises himself to look like the realities of who Jesus is. He comes in camouflage as the way, the truth and the life. He loves to take the promises of God and twist them just a bit. What he says/offers sounds good, almost right.
Jesus is the way
On a recent trip to Miami, we were following our GPS carefully. It sent us to an exit that didn’t seem quite right, but we didn’t know the way. So we followed the directions down the road, through several turns and eventually back to the highway we had been on. A completely unnecessary detour. Twice more faulty guidance led us astray before we finally reached our destination.
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 14:12)Satan whispers in our ears: “This is a good way.”
It isn’t difficult for him to lead unbelievers astray—he makes bold, attractive offers..But for God’s children he is sneaky. His path will seem good, but it is never optimum. He knows us, and he uses that knowledge to distract us from God’s best—to entice us to settle.
The truth about Satan: He leads astray.
“The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray….” (Revelation 12:9)
“We all, like sheep, have gone astray (into horrible sin, or to settling for less than God’s best), each of us has turned to his own way…. (Isaiah 53:6)
Our way may lead Into horrible sin, or to settling for less than God’s best. Sometimes Satan doesn’t have to do anything. We just go astray.
But God’s Word offers the antidote:
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’" (Isaiah 30:21)
“Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this….” (Psalm 37:5)
What about you? How do you discern the right way?
C2017 Judy Douglass
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