BE WISE AS SERPENTS (PART-2)
We have been thinking how the clever serpent thinks. Thereby, we may escape from his deceitful tricks. In continuation to the 1st Part, read this:
(2) Though Satan is a liar, sometimes he also speaks truth. Part of his speech may be truth or appears to be truth. We cannot deny this fact. His technique of deception is to mix up the truth with lies. Thereby, it would confuse us. Here, a follower of Christ needs to be able to break up his confusing words or communication i.e., a Christian should be expert enough to differentiate the truth from a lie.
Look at this verse. And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying : the same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. Acts 16:16-18
Take a look at what the spirit divination is speaking about: 1st part: these men are the servants of the most high God 2nd part: which show unto us the way of salvation.
Without a question, we agree that both parts of the above statement by the spirit of divination are true. But, what about this verse which the Lord himself told –If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? Luke 11:18. Therefore, it may be understood that even though the spirit of divination says the truth, the objective behind this is not for our gain. Those who are against the gospel of the Lord, will proclaim good about the gospel or salvation? Observe this spirit which has proclaimed about the salvation. Will Satan divide against himself? Why did Paul command the spirit to come out of that damsel when it said the truth?
A spirit of divination is not from the Lord. The Lord is against it. (There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer Deuteronomy 18: 10-11) When God himself is in opposition to those who use divination, can He seek a testimony from them?
People will not admit a thing unless they find some substantiation. This is where we may fall in his trap. Out of ten words they hear, if they are told first two or three things truthful, without thinking much you may be under impression that the next eight words are also definitely of truth.
The Bible says –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 3:5. Satan says that (1) Your eyes shall be opened (2) like gods knowing good and evil. Both these things are true. Look at this verse – And the eyes of them both were opened Genesis 3: 7. The 2nd part of his saying is also true. And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil Genesis 3:22. The important thing our God told them that they shall surely die if they eat the fruits of tree of knowledge. He did not tell about – (1) opening of eyes (2) becoming like gods knowing good and evil. Satan told this to Eve (even to Adam). This is true. Does it mean when the Lord hide these saying he has lied to us? No. Even though when He has not told these things to us, his objective is to have your salvation. Does it mean we should follow the deceiver as he has told some truth? Satan’s objective is not to tell the secrets of unseen heaven but to only confuse us. In this instance, but he mixed them up with lies or fraud. Satan deceived them by saying exactly opposite to what God had told them with regard to consequences of eating the fruits of tree of knowledge.
Thus, it is important to be cautious to recognize and be wise as serpents (1) when other says something, identify whether the whole communication or all words are true or only some part of the statement is true? (2) Remember, even whole communication is true, who is saying this important as seen in the case of spirit of divination. You need to identity the speaker of the communication. If he is not our Lord, pay no attention to him even if he says the truth or appear to be truth.