IN THE IMAGINATIONS OF MEN the devil has been portrayed as some kind of grotesque creature having horns, hooves, a forked tail, holding a pitchfork in his hand, and dwelling in the chambers of hell. As we turn to the Bible we find an entirely different kind of creature. No horns, hooves, forked tail or pitchfork are found. He is rather revealed as a fallen cherub angel, full of beauty and wisdom (Ezekiel 28). Because of pride, he lost his exalted position in heaven and became the arch enemy of God and His throne.

A REAL PERSON ON EARTH

The devil has never been in hell, but knows that his day is coming, when the power of God shall thrust him there (Revelation 20:10). Presently he is on earth, walking up and down in it (Job 2:2). Our Lord encountered Him while here (Luke 4), and the apostle Paul was hindered in his work for God by him (I Thessalonians 2:18).

Little do we realize his activity and power. He works behind the scenes, using human instruments to further his vile work, doing it so subtly, that even the instruments themselves don't realize they are being controlled and used by him. Yes, he is a real person, manipulating the strings of his puppets!

A ROARING LION

The apostle Peter describes the devil as a roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour (I Peter 5:8). This was seen in the early Church as thousands suffered a martyr's death. The lion's roar was heard! However, persecution caused Christianity to prosper instead of hindering it. Learning from this mistake, the devil changed his tactics.

AN ANGEL OF LIGHT

It is interesting to notice how concerned Satan is about the Bible! He knows that it is the only sure guide to heaven - that the Holy Scriptures are able to make men wise unto salvation (II Timothy 3:15). So, naturally, the Bible is what he attacks! His fiendish desire is for men to miss Christ as their Saviour and be lost in hell forever. Here are two of his methods.

(1) He discredits the Word of God! His first victim was Eve. He caused her to doubt God's Word by saying, "Yea, hath God said?" (Genesis 3:1). As a result, she and her husband sinned against God and ruined the whole human race, bringing sin and death into this world.

Today the Bible is scorned and laughed at as an old fairy tale. It has been taken out of our schools; the fact of its being divinely inspired is being denied in colleges, churches, and many other places. Why is this? For the simple reason that if the devil can get the younger generation to discredit the Word of God, he knows that they will then be held in darkness as to the way of obtaining God's eternal salvation.

(2) He perverts the Word of God! Satan knows the Bible better than any preacher, and he knows how to twist and misquote it, too. If he can't get a soul to hell by causing him to doubt the Bible, then he will try to deceive him with the Bible.

God says the devil is transformed into an angel of light (II Corinthians 11: 14)! As the god of this world he blinds the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, should shine unto them (II Corinthians 4:4). He preaches, through human instruments, a gospel that is "another gospel," thus perverting the gospel of Christ (Galatians 1:7,8).

He tells folks that everybody is born heaven-bound, yet God says, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). He also preaches that salvation comes by good works, yet God says it is "not by works of righteousness" (Titus 3:5).

To others he promotes the lie that God is too loving to punish one of His creatures forever, yet God says, "these shall go away into everlasting punishment" (Matthew 25:46). He is an expert in smoothing over the Word of God. He tells his listeners about heaven, but not how to get there. He tells them about Jesus, but not why Jesus died! His words are smoother than oil, giving his subjects a sense of dignity and self- righteousness. However, he leaves the subject of sin and its consequences, the need of repentance, and the sobering subject of hell entirely alone - lest their conscience be disturbed! Thus God speaks of him as, "that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world" (Revelation 12:9). Yes, modernistic religion is one of his best blindfolds.

GOD'S TRUTH

Friend! - forget the devil's lies and listen to God for a minute! He says, "All have sinned" (Romans 3:23). This takes you in! It is hard for one to believe that his sins are taking him to hell fire. However, God says, "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). This means the second death. They "shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8). What awful wages sin pays! God in mercy has provided a way of escape from the burning lake of fire - not through religion or good works, but through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ! Listen to His words to you.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24).

My friend, on what are you resting your soul for eternity? The devil's lies, or God's truth?