Thought for Thursday
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11
Years ago, there was a cartoon involving a coyote that was always trying to catch a speedy roadrunner. Known as Wile E. Coyote, the unfortunate cartoon character was never able to capture the bird, which was far too fast for him. So the coyote would resort to elaborate schemes to trick and trap the roadrunner, and all of his schemes would end in hilarious disaster for the coyote. For all of his wily ways, there was a definite limit to the coyote’s wiles, unlike the wiles of the devil, which seem to be unlimited, and which only the whole armour of God can overcome.
The word ‘wiles’ refers to deception through trickery. We often use wiles when we play innocent tricks or practical jokes on our friends. Such wiles are harmless and fun. But there is nothing harmless or fun about the wiles of the devil. He lies to us, tries to trap us, discourage us and snare us. He does anything he can do with cunning satanic variety to weaken us and destroy us. He works constantly and tirelessly to produce discouragement, confusion, indifference, and imbalance. As our chief enemy, he deals in wiles and stratagems. And we need protection against his wiles.
One of the devil’s chief wile is to make sin look attractive while minimizing the damage it causes. Think of how he entices people into using tobacco, alcohol, and drugs by making them seem exciting and adventurous, tricking them into the addictions that destroy body and soul. Like Moses, we need to understand that the pleasures of sin are but for a season (Hebrews 11:25). Our first parents failed to properly respond to the devil’s wiles in enticing them with the advantages of disobedience while ignoring the dreadful consequences for themselves and all mankind. This has been the favourite of all the devil’s wiles, because it is so successful.
The devil also takes unfair advantage of our humanity by drawing near during times of emotion. In our anger, he entices us to violence. In our loneliness, he presents the alurement of lust. In our discouragement, he urges us to steal or to use destructive substances. In our desperation, he provides us with convenient but deadly lies to tell. He knows the weaknesses caused by our emotions, and exploits them.
Another successful wile of the devil is to use people to trick and trap us and to lead us astray. He might impress us with the eloquence of a false teacher, or the salesmanship of the dishonest business dealer, or the beauty of an unsaved companion. The devil has plenty of allies out there, and he is not shy about using them when they serve his wily and wicked purposes.
Faced with such a wiley enemy, is it possible to stand against him? Our text declares that it is, by putting on the whole armour of God. -Jim MacIntosh