Don’t Fall For Satan’s Lies
But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the
Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and
if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the
amount.”
Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man,
too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
-- Luke 19:8-9
Even in the world of prosperity theology, it seems
extravagant. Televangelist Jesse Duplantis wants his followers to give him $54
million for a private jet. He already has three private planes but “God wants”
him to have a new one.
I wonder how many foolish people will send him money,
believing that God will bless them financially for doing so? This man isn’t of
God. Do they know that? Do they understand just how far away from the gospel Duplantis’
rhetoric really is?
The man says that Jesus wouldn’t ride a donkey today.
He and Kenneth Copeland insist that they can’t pray on commercial airlines that
are filled with demons. Copeland’s word, not mine. They just “know” that God
wants to bless them with private planes.
And mansions. We can’t forget the luxurious lifestyle Duplantis’
followers provide for him. Jesus didn’t even have a home of his own. Why would
these imposters insist than God wants them to have mansions on this earth?
Because we are foolish people. Because desperate people
fall for Satan’s lies. Because we want so badly to be rid of the heartache and
pain, the struggles and the limits, of our own lives. So we believe what isn’t
true in a futile attempt to become wealthy and live an easy life.
I want so desperately for these sad people to read the
Bible for themselves. I want them to truly know Jesus, to know that He is
enough. I want them to understand that even though life is sometimes hard, He
walks with us every step of the way.
Jesus mingled with the poor. He ministered to sinners.
He drove out demons. He touched lepers. He wept with friends. Jesus lived among
the people who needed Him the most. He could easily have hid Himself in a
mansion but Jesus chose to live amongst the downtrodden.
In fact, the only times Jesus was truly angry was when
others were taking advantage of the poor. Just like Duplantis is doing right
now.
I’ve no doubt that God will handle this imposter in
His good time. But how many people will he lead astray before that time comes?
How many lies will people believe? Peter tells us to be watchful because the
devil prowls about looking for people to devour. Satan is no doubt feasting on
the followers of this imposter. It is just so sad.
What, perhaps, is even sadder are those who don’t know
Jesus and are turned away from His truth because of people who claim to be of
God and yet aren’t. We must be strong. We must continue to shine His light on
this dark world. We must expose those who take advantage of unsuspecting
people.
Don’t fall for Satan’s lies. Stand strong and trust in
the true King, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
