Revelation 12:9
“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
One of the attributes of Satan which every Christian needs to beware of is that he is a deceiver. Throughout the Scriptures you will see his work was filled with deceit. He appears one way, but is much different when he is truly revealed. He says one thing, but what he truly offers is never the same as what you receive.
One of the best stories to show Satan’s deception is when he appeared in the form of a serpent to Eve in the Garden of Eden. It is quite interesting that he appeared as a serpent, but he was more than a serpent, he was the Devil. He told Eve that she would become as a god, but never told her the death that came with eating the fruit. He appeared as someone who cared for her, but was only using her to get back at God. Satan masterfully deceived her, and everyone born pays the price to this day.
Satan has not changed his deceiving ways. His purpose in deceiving people is to lead them astray from the old paths God prescribed us to walk down. He will seduce the most innocent person and destroy their life. He is the master deceiver. How is it though that he deceives us?
First, he always deceives people by questioning the Word of God. Every Christian needs to beware of those who put question to God’s Word. God’s Word is true, and anyone who would cause you to question that is only doing the work of Satan. He questioned God’s Word in the Garden of Eden, and he still questions it today. He questions it by causing people to think that God didn’t truly mean for us to obey all of His Word. He questions God’s Word by saying that It must be interpreted through cultural relativity. He questions God’s Word by saying It cannot be absolute. Watch out for Satan’s deceiving way of questioning the Word of God.
Second, he deceives people by appealing to their flesh. Satan caused Eve to look at how the fruit was good for food. There is nothing wrong with taking care of yourself, but you must beware of trying to fill your fleshly desires. When you do things because it feels good, you have succumbed to the deceitful ways of Satan. We are not to do things because of how they make us feel, but we are to do things because they are right.
Third, he deceives people by appealing to their intellect. He told Eve that she would become as a god. Satan is a master of getting people to trust their own intellect instead of trusting God by faith. Friend, be careful about thinking you have discovered something new, for God has said there is nothing under the sun. Intellect has destroyed many people. Intellect has wooed many people away from truth. It may sound good, but if it contradicts the Word of God it is wrong.
If Satan is the master of deceit, then how do we overcome him? The way to overcome deceit is with truth. Truth always combats deceit. When Jesus faced the deceit of Satan, He used the Word of God to defeat him. If you want to avoid the deceitful ways of Satan, base everything you do on the Word of God. You will never go wrong letting God’s Word be your decision maker. Trust God’s Word because It has never led one person down the wrong path.