Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Friday, January 15, 2016

"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ [God]. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light."¹

Tragically, terrorism (which continues unabated throughout the world) is not only a reign of terror but a reign of lies. And when justified in the name of "God" or "Allah" and religion, it becomes even more deceptive and dastardly. It is evil incarnate!

Today's extremist Islamic terrorists who are wreaking havoc and murder in various parts of the world (Al-Qeada is thought to be operating in as many as 60 countries) are taught and believe that they are waging a just war in the name of "God/Allah" and religion. They have convinced themselves that they have the truth and that Jews and Christians are the infidels and must be destroyed.

The fact is that we live in a world of both good and evil and it seems to me that the bottom line in the battle between good and evil is fundamentally a battle between truth and lies.

God is truth and in Him is no darkness. He is symbolized by light. Satan, on the other hand, is the father of lies and a liar from the beginning. He is symbolized by darkness and transforms himself to appear as an angel of light.

Hitler's reign of terror was a reign of lies. Tragically, too many believed his lies that the Jews were an inferior race and had to be done away with. Millions were slaughtered.

Stalin's reign of terror was a reign of lies. Communism was claimed to be the greatest way of life and democracy had to be destroyed. Millions were killed.

Every dictator in his lust for power who seeks to destroy and kill all who oppose him (and his self-glorifying ambitions) is a messenger of evil, a master of deceit, and an agent of Satan, the devil.

These masters of deceit dress their lies in an attractive garment fabricated with an element of truth that makes their message appeal to those who walk in darkness and not in the light of God's truth. Evil's messengers may be dressed in sheep's clothes, but inside they are murderous wolves.

Let us not be lulled to sleep: (1) by those whose aim is to be politically correct and whitewash or soften the voice of evil, (2) by those who would have us believe that educated, civilized man is becoming more tolerant and peaceful, (3) by those who think that the Osama bin Ladens and the "would-be Hitlers" of the world are no threat to Western society, or (4) by those who would have us believe the lie that all roads lead to God!

No! All roads do not lead to God, otherwise why would Jesus Christ have to come to earth to die on the cross to redeem lost mankind? Jesus made it very clear that H   e was the only way to God.²

And no! Educated, civilized mankind is not getting better. Remember Hitler was the leader of one of the most educated and informed people on earth—and a master of deceit.

Evil dictators will stop at nothing—I repeat, nothing—to fulfill their self-centered, lustful, power-monger ambitions.

As the Bible says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"³ This is why our world desperately needs the Savior. Jesus Christ is not only the hope of the world, but the only hope of the world and of lost mankind.

Against all evil and its lies, we need to know the truth of what God's Word teaches and be on our guard. And may we be reminded once again that "eternal vigilance is still the price of freedom." And among other things, we need to oppose the message of terrorism by urgently demonstrating and proclaiming to all people the gospel message of God's forgiveness, hope, healing, love, and peace.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, these very sobering times. Grant that our nation will see that there is a reign of terror and evil throughout the world and may we, seeing our plight and our need, turn to You—the only hope for our broken world and lost mankind. Help us to see all events of terrorism as a wake-up call to turn back to you. I implore You to send us a revival of the Spirit. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."

1. 2 Corinthians 11:13-14 (NKJV).
2. See John 14:6.
3. Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV).

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