Man’s greatest enemy is Satan. His every goal is wicked and evil, yet he makes his product look so attractive. If he could only be seen as he is described by Peter, “as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Then maybe people would take Peter’s advice as is found in the same verse, “Be sober, be vigilant;” People would keep their guard up against Satan rather than embracing him as a friend.

Satan works in ways that some never suspect. For instance, Satan lies. This is seen in man’s first encounter with this being. In the Garden of Eden, Mother Eve was overcome by the lies of Satan. God had told them, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Gen. 2:16, 17). Satan knew God had told Adam and Eve the truth. Yet he tells Eve, “Ye shall not surely die: (Gen.

3:4, 5). He continues his lying today. Man falls prey to his lies by giving in to the “Lust of the eye, lust of the flesh and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16). Satan tells people still that God really does not mean what He has said. God has told us in His word that baptism is for salvation (1 Peter 3:21), yet Satan has people believing that baptism is not important. So many have forgotten to check God’s word before believing a thing. False doctrines are widespread in the religious world. Adam and Eve were cast from the garden, and death entered into the world because they listened to Satan’s lie. We must learn from their mistakes and not believe Satan’s lies. Our punishment will be eternity in hell if we fall into his snare.

Another method Satan has is that of using scripture. That statement sounds strange, but it is true. The New Testament tells of a time when Jesus was tempted by Satan. As one examines the text of the account it is seen that Satan tried to use Go’s words to entrap the Lord. He did quote the Psalmist, “for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone (Matt. 4:6). He was tempting the Lord to tempt the words of His Father. It was true that Jesus would have been protected from such harm, yet this portrayal of Him as the Messiah was not as God had planned. Also, Jesus knew the scriptures well an so used them to overcome this temptation. “Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God,” (Deut. 6:16). It is seen by this encounter that those who would seek God’s approval in their life should study His word and live by those words.

This means a dedicated study not a surface study.

We must be aware of the workings of Satan. We need to follow the example of the Bereans and “search the scriptures daily”. We must realize that Satan is a real being trying to bring destruction.