Halloween and politics are not so different. Both are
deceptive. Both use masks. Both are scary. How should we respond? We need to
follow the light of God’s revelation. 1 John 5:19 states, “We know that we are
of God, and the whole world lies under
the sway of the wicked one.” That is an apt verse for Halloween as well as for
politics. It’s important for us to know the truth when the veil of deception
descends. Halloween and politics can intoxicate us. They can confuse our
thinking and destabilize us spiritually. They can cause us to forget who we are.
They can make us act like a stumbling drunk swaying into oncoming traffic. That
is dangerous.
There are two groups of people. One group is aware, one
unaware of who they are. Christians know they are of God. John was inspired to
write about our fellowship with God. He wrote of the fullness of joy that comes
from that relationship (1 John 1:3-4). If we walk in the light of God’s word we
learn how to be cleansed from our sin by the blood of Jesus (1:7; compare Psalm
119:105).
John wrote that godly obedience is a fruit of fellowship
with God (2:3-4). The supreme commandment to obey is to love (2:5, 7-11). To love is to live like Jesus (2:6). To love
like Jesus means we aren’t attached or in love with the things of this world.
We love God supremely (2:15-17). We are aware of and thankful for the
incredible love God has bestowed on us (3:1). Living in this loving
relationship with God in Christ enables us to have victory over life dominating
sins (3:6-9). Love in the believer is evidence of spiritual life and knowing
God (4:7-12, 16-21). Such love should permeate every facet of our Christian
life.
With God comes discernment (2:20-21, 26-27; 4:1). We are enabled
to discern those things which oppose Christ (2:18-19). Jesus came to “destroy
the works of the devil” (3:8b). If Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil
it’s inappropriate for children of God to be associated with them in any way
(3:10-21). The devil attempts to instill hate. Jesus instills love. Children of
God discern the two.
The Holy Spirit brings truth and light. Our discernment and
the love of God come from the work of the Spirit in us (3:24; cf. also Rom.
5:5). It is the inward assuring presence of the Holy Spirit that helps us to
know that we have an abiding relationship with God (4:13). He gives us
identity. He is Holy. We are to be holy (e.g. 1 Pet. 1:15-16). We are a work of
the Holy Spirit.
God’s discernment, love and
Christlikeness are appropriated in us by
faith. “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the
victory that has overcome the world – our faith” (5:4). Trusting God enables us
to lovingly obey God in a way that is not heavy or burdensome (5:3). When you
love God, to obey Him is a joyful blessed experience. That’s because we
understand how great God’s love is for us. We can’t wait to show Him how much
we love and appreciate Him. “And this is the testimony: that God has given us
eternal life, and this life is in His Son” (5:11; see 5:12). “It is finished!”
(John 19:30). “Lord, what do you want me to do?” (Acts 9:6).
Such love makes God approachable.
A Father who loves us so much hears us. We pray. If He hears us we can be
confident this loving heavenly Father will answer us (5:14-15). This confidence
opens the door to a wealth of blessing and strength to get us through life.
Prayer more than politics is our power tool for life.
Such love moves us to look beyond
ourselves to others lost like we once were (3:1; 5:13). That becomes our new
priority. We pray for those caught in sin to repent and be saved. Sinners are
separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2; Psalm 66:18; Hab. 1:13). They are “under the
sway of the wicked one.” They are so blinded that they love their sin. They
have no desire to leave their wicked ways. They promote their sinful lifestyles
and belittle all objectors (e.g. Rom. 1:18-32). No one can come to the Father
unless He draw them (John 6:44). The Spirit convicts of sin (John 16:8-11). That
is grace. Pray for them. Love them into the Kingdom.
How can we expect those under the
sway of the wicked one to behave? Based on 1 John they deny their sinfulness
(1:8, 10). They are hateful (2:11; 3:17; 4:20). They love the world and the
things of the world (2:13; 4:5). They oppose Christ proposing alternatives to
Him as Savior and God in the flesh (2:18; 4:2-3). They are liars and deny Jesus
and the Father (2:22-23). They live lifestyles of sin (3:10-13). They claim to
be a part of the church but are not truly children of God (2:19). They are
false prophets (4:1). We see a lot of this in political campaigns. As we look on the vicious mob of satanically
swayed ones maybe we hear, “And such were some of you” (1 Cor. 6:11). There is
hope in Jesus. Keep that in mind.
Ask an unbeliever if they are under
the influence of the devil and more likely than not they will deny it. They may
even deny there is a devil. The Bible states Satan, “the god of this world,”
has blinded the minds of people (2 Cor. 4:4). Satan is a liar and deceiver by
nature (John 8:44). He is wicked and seeks to destroy people not only
physically but eternally by stealing their souls. He uses deception to do this.
Our nation and its leaders are moving further away from God. Hence, it is not
surprising to see so much deception in the political arena. Guess who’s behind
that?
The word “wicked” is translated
from the Greek term poneros. This word
means, vicious, evil, hurtful, calamitous, malicious, morally corrupt, and
lewd. Poneros is connected to the
word ponos which means “labor.” The
idea of pŏnērŏs is laboring to do evil. We could say the
wicked campaign for evil. We also get
the English word pornography from this word. All the filth and falsehood
permeating and pouring out into the world today can be traced to the work of
the wicked one. He is campaigning for evil.
People are not only dabbling in sin,
but living in it, enjoying it, promoting it, intoxicated with it. It’s all part
of the sway of the devil. Like a tasty morsel temptingly placed in the center
of a trap. Sinful practices promise pleasure. But any pleasure sin promises is
temporary and leads to death (Heb. 11:25).
Halloween is a dangerous time of
deception. Ghouls, goblins, ghosts, skeletons, black cats, witches, tricks and
treats are some of the “fun” indulgences we are tempted to partake in. But
remember, they all have dark origins. None are a product of God’s light. That
should be enough to sway us away. But still some will give in to temptation. And
when someone succumbs to indulge it subtly lowers the sensitivity to discerning
darkness and light. It blurs truth from error. It whispers assuringly, See, there’s nothing wrong with this. Over time what is viewed as slight deviations
from the word of God start to add up. One day, SCLAP! The trap slams shut. You’re
caught in the sway of the wicked one. That which is presented as harmless isn’t
as harmless as it seems. That is the nature of deception. And that is the sway
of the wicked one.
This is an election year. There’s
a lot of added deception going around. The “prince of the power of the air” is
having a field day (Eph. 2:2). We need to be good citizens and vote. Our
choices may be discouraging. But we should still vote. Are we choosing candidates based on a
scriptural world view? “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and
empty deceit, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according
to Christ” (Col. 2:8). Look at the party
platforms. Look at the voting records. Who
promotes a biblical concept of work (2 Thess. 3:10-12). Who promotes a biblical
concept of charity? (James 1:27; 5:14). Who promotes a biblical view of debt?
(Prov. 22:7). Who supports the right to life of the unborn? (Ps. 139:13; Jer.
1:5). Who supports biblical monogamous heterosexual marriage? (Gen. 1:26-28;
2:18-25). Who supports Israel? (Gen. 12:3). Who is closest to biblical values? Vote!
But before you do ask yourself, am I
voting prophetically or profit-ically?
How we vote will determine our bankruptcy or blessing. Think about it. Pray
about it. Vote!
There’s pleasure in sin for a
season. The first nibble of the cheese in the mousetrap tastes good. Rat poison
is 99.99% nourishing to the rat. It’s the .01% of the poison that’s a killer.
Don’t be deceived; not even a little. Know who you are. You are of God! Live it
and don’t be swayed by the wicked one!
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