We recently talked about the three sources of temptation; the world, the flesh and the devil.  Having talked to a great many people about their experience with sin, I can say that people generally can see and comprehend how the world and the flesh have an effect on human sin.  It seems that what they have difficulty with is the category of “the Devil”.  The evidence of the real existence and effective tempting powers of the flesh is everywhere.  Look through any magazine or watch any cable TV channel and it is there on display.  The same goes for the World as the entire advertising industry is built on the power of suggestion to create a preferred behavior.

What appears to happen with the threat of “the Devil” is that we think that we are immune to his temptations, or just as dangerous is our inclination to think that he is not that big of a threat.  On one hand, we think that we are too small for any devil to take interest in.  After all, why would any Devil worth his salt, spend time on someone as unimportant as us.  On the other hand, we believe that we could recognize the Devil and his tricks so that we could do battle with him and win.

The scriptures tell us that all of those notions are both false and dangerous.  It was a very important day in my spiritual life when I discovered the infinity that God dwells in.  I became aware that time does not impede God.  He can hear everyone’s prayers at the same time such that there is no such thing as bothering God with our trivial stuff.  There is nothing trivial to God and my smallest prayer is as important to Him as the greatest prayer of the greatest man in existence.  It was another great day in my spiritual life when I figured out that while the Devil doesn’t have equal powers to God, he nonetheless far outmatches us in time and in the ability to multitask.  The Devil delights in corrupting the smallest soul and he has a lifetime to do it in.  When the Devil corrupts a soul, that soul becomes a part of the mechanism of the World and works to corrupt others.  There is a multiplying effect to the work of the Devil. 

We believe that we can recognize the Devil when he is present, and that idea is so idiotic that it is dangerous.  The Devil is a master of disguise and deception.  He is not going to show up with a tail and carrying a pitchfork.  He is going to show up in a suit and tie, speaking gentle and beautiful words that sound very appealing. 

I describe the Devil as a fisherman.  Everything he offers looks enticing and has a hook buried in it and you won’t know until you bite into it.