Do you get a ton of junk mail in your email in box? I get it all the time. I probably delete as many emails as I read in one day because they’re junk mail. The ones that really make me mad are the ones sent to look like they are from someone I know and trust but they are really from someone trying to scam me out of money or worse, trying to send a virus to my computer. I find myself wondering what kind of people spend their days coming up with those evil plots.
In John 8:44 Jesus speaks about such people. He says “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Just as there are those who live to do the work of the Lord, there are also those who live to do the work of the evil one.
Many of us assume whenever the enemy comes he will have pointed ears and a pitchfork in his hand. That would make it too easy for us to notice him and turn from him. The enemy is far more cunning than that [2 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 4:14].
The emails that come to my in box appear to be legit. The have key phrases in the reference line to make me buy into opening them. They are lies with just enough truth to grab me if I am not alert. In 1 Peter 5:8 we are warned about such things. “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Just like the virus embedded in the email sent to me is designed to destroy my computer, the enemy’s sole purpose in coming around you is complete destruction [John 10:10].
My computer was protected from harm because I detected something false about the email. My preexisting relationship with the publisher of the organization the email appeared to come from was my saving grace. I knew her name and I knew how she typically addressed my emails and I was able to detect something wasn’t right with the email before me so I didn’t open it. As we spend time with the Father in prayer and time reading His messages to us in His Word, we become familiar with how He addresses us and we can more easily detect an imposter [John 10:1-30]. Take some time today to get to know your Father’s voice. It just might save your life.