“The devil hath power to assume a pleasing shape.” -Shakespeare

It perhaps all started in the garden of Eden, when the subtle and smooth animal, the serpent, visited Eve and tempted her. All throughout history, the Devil has appeared and tempted mankind in a variety of ways.

The Bible calls him by many names:

“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” -Revelation 12:9

Yet in everything, it is important to remember that he most often appears in shapes and temptations that are pleasing to us. He rarely comes as a roaring lion, but more often as a diminutive lamb. It is more often that he chooses to come as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, so that he may deceive us.

Sin, in one way or another, when we are being tempted, nearly always appears with some sort of “good” appeal. We can see some perceived benefit or good side to the wickedness that we want to commit. Yet we ought to recognize that it is only Satan’s deception, and such deceitful roses are liable to prick us with their thorns.

The apostle Paul even goes so far as say that one of Satan’s forms is that of an angel. And if he can make his own self—the very prince of darkness and a grotesque master of evil—appear as a beautiful angel, surely he can also make our sins and temptations appear all the more pleasant as well.

“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” -2 Corinthians 11:14

“[Charity/Love] believeth all things. . .” -1 Corinthians 13:7

Here in the well-known love-chapter of the Bible, 1 Corinithians 13, we see a small gem about true, abiding love, which is sometimes referred to as “charity.”

What is love’s characteristic? It believes all things. That is to say, it believes good things about others, without second-guessing. Essentially, love trusts.

And underneath all of the terms and definitions, it is this very love that brings about salvation in a person’s soul. When we hear the gospel, we respond to God’s message with love: we trust Him, and we believe what He has said to us. In its most succinct form, when combined with God’s gospel, love saves.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” -John 3:16

“Each present joy or sorrow seems the chief.” -Shakespeare

It is a common condition we face: that the pains (or pleasures) of the current day can overwhelm us. And while it’s true that Jesus has said that we ought to “take no thought on the morrow,” it could be understood that He was referring to worry and anxiety; that today’s troubles are enough to deal with, and we ought not to let future problems inhibit or crowd our thoughts for the present.

Yet in the same way, we can let the present circumstances—the present clouds overhead—block out the goodness and joy of God’s salvation. Yet in this regard it is important to look to the future, with hope, and not grow weary in this earthly life. “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).

So, in essence, when thinking of the future, we ought to shun unnecessary worries and doubts, but cling to comforts and joys found in God’s promises. In so doing, we’ll find strength for the next day. In seeing the bigger picture, we realize that there truly is a light at the end of the tunnel, leading to an endless day with Christ in heaven.

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” -2 Corinthians 4:16-18

“Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.” -Psalm 82:8

Beyond the psalmist’s plea to God to “judge the earth,” we see another truth expressed: that God will one day inherit all the nations.

This truth: that God would be a redeemer of all nations, is not original in the 82nd psalm, for in the 2nd psalm it is also said: “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession” (Psalm 2:8).

And far before this, when God spoke to Abraham, He mentioned this future glory when He said: “in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:3).

Fast Forward

©iStockphoto.com/JBryson
Jesus Christ came to save all nations.

And looking forward, in the book of Revelation, we see the consummation of all such prophecies of God’s diverse redemption, when John writes:

“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” -Revelation 7:9-10

“A man who makes no enemies is never a positive force.” -Simon Cameron

That is to say, one who simply bends and flexes to the whims of whomever and whatever they encounter will never be a positive force for change in the world. For even the Lord Jesus has said the same:

“Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” -Luke 6:26

Yet as a balance to this, we are also not to go about in a combative and argumentative demeanor, seeking to force our thoughts upon anyone we may chance to come across. “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18).

Yet, when all is said and done, we ought to remain unwavering in our love and faithfulness to Christ and His commands. If we make enemies in the process of following after God, so be it.

“Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.” -Luke 6:22-23

“For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:” -Romans 9:3

Here in Paul’s letter to the Romans we see an insight into true Christian love: it’s self-sacrificing. Paul even goes so far as saying that if it were possible, he would be willing to be cast off from Christ Himself, if it were to bring about the salvation of his “kinsmen,” that is to say, the Jews.

It is apparent when reading Paul’s epistle that he has a strong and enduring love for his brothers. “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1). Look at his heartache and pain as he agonizes over the lost souls among his own people:

“I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.” -Romans 9:1-5

Moses’ selfless love

In the Old Testament, Moses had a very similar circumstance as well. He had witnessed the sin and unfaithfulness of God’s people, and saw how God was angry with them, and was seeking to cast them off. And yet Moses interceded on their behalf, and even offered to take their place in God’s anger:

“And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin–; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.” -Exodus 32:31-32

And so, much like the apostle Paul, we see Moses willing to be even blotted out of God’s book for their sake! Such a comment ought not to be considered lightly, for in Revelation we see the weight and consequence of such a request:

“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” -Revelation 20:15

Love’s selfless quality

We ought to learn and seek to imitate the love shown by the men in these two previous examples. And if that weren’t enough, we have Christ Himself to show us of selfless love:

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” -1 John 3:16-18

“Bad men excuse their faults, good men will leave them.” -Ben Jonson

To leave behind one’s faults, is what the Bible calls repentance. That is to say, instead of making excuses for the things that we do wrong, we ought rather to take responsibility for them, and turn away from them.

“For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” -John 3:20