The Invisible Spy

In today’s world amidst all the political turmoil that is rife, it is not uncommon for one government to send spies to a government in another country to discover the secrets of the foreign country and report their findings back to their original country. Especially during the years of the Cold War, when the Iron Curtain was strong in Eastern Europe and the U.S.S.R., spies were constantly busy. Some were not careful and were caught and paid dearly for their deceit. For a while there was considerable tension between the two “super powers” of the U.S.A. and U.S.S.R. Everyone was holding their breath, hoping that this thin thread of peace would remain unbroken. Today the strength of one of those “super powers” has been broken in a peaceful manner and the world seems to be breathing a sigh of relief. During those years of political tension, each country was sending spies to other country. Could they not have ignored the other country and simply continued with life in their own country? No, they did not trust the other countries – they were the enemy – and the best way to defeat your enemy is to be able to anticipate their next move and be one step ahead of them.

It was very important to know the secrets of the enemy and often the most unlikely people were sent as spies. People who were the least expected – they won the trust of the foreign nation by their friendliness and helpfulness, but underneath they had another motive in mind. “Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.” Ps. 28:3. “The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.” Ps. 55:21. Spies were not always the large, toughlooking man dressed in a black coat that we may imagine. They were ordinary looking men and even
beautiful women. People were chosen who could do the best job of deception, both in intellect and in appearance.

Today we have a very powerful enemy, who is seeking to devour as many Christians as he can. He is invisible and this makes him even more deadly. Since he is not seen, he is not taken as seriously as he would be could we see him. Sister White was given a vision of his true appearance and it was horrifying.

As Christians, it is far more important to know our “invisible” enemy. He is an invisible spy. While his true appearance is not pleasant to behold, when he appears to man, he will come looking like an angel of light. He will come in the least way we expect it. In the Garden of Eden, he did not choose any animal – he chose the most beautiful animal in which to tempt Eve. Today, many times he will come in the form of beauty or something that looks very good and right, but underneath he is deadly. Paul told Timothy to “flee also youthful lusts” 2 Tim. 5:22.

The youth today are tempted by influences that look good. It appears that their friends are having a good time and enjoying life while indulging in sinful habits – but “the end thereof are the ways of death.” Pr. 14:12.

The best way we can become a victor over this deadly enemy is through surrendering yourself to Christ. We are to be as Spiritual spies – knowing our enemy, anticipating some of his tactics so that we can be ready when he attacks. While we are not to spend our lives worrying about our enemy and constantly thinking about him, we are to fill ourselves with Christ and through Christ this knowledge will be revealed to us as needed. We must know our enemy.

The Bible tells us that there are several different ways in which Satan works. He works by accusation, affliction, persecution and deception. The first three are openly seen as the work of Satan, however the final one – deception is very subtle. He has the most success with this method because he comes as an angel of light. He comes in his evil form when he uses accusation, affliction and persecution, but with deception he comes with love. False love. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” Proverbs 27:6.

When sin looks good

Spies like to pretend they are on your side; they are all for you, when they are in reality against you. “The enemy is preparing for his last campaign against the church. He has so concealed himself from view that many can hardly believe that he exists; much less can they be convinced of his amazing activity and power. They have to a great extent forgotten his past record; and when he makes another advance move, they will not recognize him as their enemy, that old serpent, but they will consider him a friend, one who is doing a good work. Boasting of their independence they will, under his specious, bewitching influence, obey the worst impulses of the human heart and yet believe that God is leading them. Could their eyes be opened to distinguish their captain, they would see that they are not serving God, but the enemy of all righteousness. They would see that their boasted independence is one of the heaviest fetters Satan can rivet on unbalanced minds.”5T,p. 294.

“God reveals His will to us in His word, the Scriptures. His voice is also revealed in His providential workings; and it will be recognized if we do not separate our souls from Him by walking in our own ways, doing according to our unsanctified heart, until the senses have become so confused that eternal things are not discerned, and the voice of Satan is disguised that it is accepted as the voice of God.” 5T, p. 512.

“The bait which he has found will avail in bringing souls into his net, that he may fasten his hellish grasp upon them, he will clothe with every possible good and make as attractive as possible. All who are thus ensnared will learn at a dreadful expense the folly of selling heaven and immortality for a deception that is fatal in its consequences.” T2, p. 172.

“His most successful scheme in deceiving man has been to conceal his real purposes and his true character by representing himself to be man’s friend – a benefactor of the race.” Confrontation, E. White, p. 36. While we know he is a real enemy, he is able to appear as men and women, who become our friends – or he uses men and women only to deceive us and cast doubt in our i minds regarding the truth, the Spirit of Prophecy and who God’s church is today. When we hear these doubts, we must leave the presence of these people. They have no desire to learn truth, they only want to deceive and lead others away from the path of truth to their own way of thinking.

“He is too cunning to come openly, boldly, with his temptations; for then the drowsy energies of the Christian would arouse, and he would rely upon the strong and mighty Deliverer. But he comes in unperceived, and works in disguise through the children of disobedience who profess godliness.” IT, p. 341.

“Sin is made attractive by the covering of light which Satan throws over it, and he is well pleased when he can hold the Christian world in their daily habits under the tyranny of custom, like the heathen, and allow appetite to govern them.” Confrontation, p. 57/58.

We see this very clearly in the case of Samson. A beautiful woman deceived him. But despite all counsels and reproofs from his parents and elders, he chose to continue in his erroneous way never dreaming that this beautiful woman that was so kind and loving to him would deceive him. The end result was deadly.

“In every temptation he will present some bribe, some apparent good to be gained.” Conf.. p.72.

Presumption

“The sin of presumption lies close beside the virtue of perfect faith and confidence in God. Satan flattered himself that he could take advantage of the humanity of Christ to urge Him over the line of trust to presumption. Upon this point many souls are wrecked. Satan tried to deceive Christ through flattery. He admitted that He was right in the wilderness in His faith and confidence that God was His Father under the most trying circumstances.

He then urged Christ to give him one more proof of His entire dependence upon God, one more evidence of His faith that He was the Son of God, by casting Himself from the Temple.” Confrontation, p. 48.

We don’t need to prove that God loves us. Many are looking for tangible proof. We believe it because God said it in His Word. He has never broken any promises in the past and He surely will not do so in the future. Those looking for tangible proofs are copying Satan in the wilderness.
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Spies often like to give advice in an attempt to deceive a country into making an irrational decision that will ultimately benefit the enemy. Satan also tells us that we can do irrational things and continue in little sins and God will still love us. We don’t have to be that strict in our lives. A little sin here or there won’t hurt anyone. Souls will be lost because of those little things. God means what He says to the tiniest detail.

“God has given man precious promises upon conditions of faith and obedience; but they are not to sustain him in any rash act. If men needlessly place themselves in peril, and go where God does not require them to go, and selfconfidently expose themselves to danger, disregarding the dictates of reason, God will not work a miracle to relieve them. He will not send His angels to preserve any from being burned if they choose to place themselves in the fire.” Conf.p. 85.

Dwelling too much on Satan:

Some people simply spend too much time thinking about Satan. All they do is remember the dark parts of their history, when Satan and his agents buffeted them and they are morose. They are worried about Satan’s present activities in their life. They are so busy worrying about the enemy, that they can’t make a definite plan to go forward.

Once a country finds out about an enemy plan, they have to make their counter plan. They can’t keep dwelling on the enemy’s plan or their past defeats to their enemy. They have to plan for the future – how the enemy will not fool them again. We are to connect ourselves with Christ and dwell upon Him, as this is the only sure way we can defeat our enemy.

“It is by beholding that we become changed. By dwelling upon the love of God and our Saviour by contemplating the perfection of the divine character and claiming the righteousness of Christ as ours by faith, we are to be transformed into the same image. Then let us not gather together all the unpleasant pictures – the iniquities and corruptions and disappointments, the evidences of Satan’s power – to hang in the halls of our memory, to talk over and mourn over until our souls are filled with discouragement. A discouraged soul is a body of darkness, not only failing himself to receive the light of God, but also shutting it away from others. Satan loves to see the effect of the pictures of his triumphs, making human beings faithless and disheartened.” 5T, p. 744.

Still Time

Another tactic that spies like to use is delay. When King David was fleeing Jerusalem during his son Absalom’s conspiracy, he sent his trusted counsellor Hushai back as a spy to try to thwart the advice of the wise counsellor Ahithophel. When Absalom was ready to fight, he sought advice from his counsellors. He first asked of Ahithophel who advised him to take immediate action with 12,000 soldiers.

Ahithophel himself offered to lead them and leave Absalom safely in Jerusalem. This sounded like a good plan to Absalom. However he wanted more advice so he sought the advice of Hushai, thinking that Hushai also was on his side. The first thing that Hushai said was, “The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time.” 2 Sam. 17:7.

He then goes on to explain why. David and his men are angry “as a bear robbed of her whelps in a field.”
He also reminded Absalom that David’s faithful soldiers were among the best in Israel, “thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men.” So in order to win this war, Absalom would need a much larger army and also that he should personally go and fight. He counselled, “That all Israel be generally gathered., from Dan to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person.” The time it took to gather men from all Israel would be time enough for David and his followers to cross the Jordan River to safety. Hushai knew that this would cause defeat for Absalom and it would be best for David’s cause if Absalom was killed in battle and that is why he suggested that Absalom go. If he was not in the battle, the problem would still not be solved because he would still be sitting on David’s throne, even if he lost that battle. This delay was deadly for Absalom’s army, but salvation for David and his army.

Fortunately for David, Absalom did not see through Hushai’s deception. He said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” Hushai’s plot was eventually found out by Absalom, but it was too late, the outcome of the battle was inevitable – David’s army won. (Verses taken from 2 Sam. 17). Delay caused the defeat. Satan sees how effective delay can be and so he uses it in his favour.

“Satan tells the young that there is time enough yet, that they may indulge in sin and vice this once and never again; but that one indulgence will poison their whole life. Do not venture on forbidden ground.” 2T, p. 409.

“We may be off our guard, but our adversary is never idle. Knowing his tireless vigilance, let us not sleep, as do others, but “watch and be sober.” The spirit and influence of the world must be met, but they must not be allowed to take possession of the mind and heart.” 5T, p. 409.

Don’t get caught asleep like the ten virgins, thinking that there is plenty of time. There is not plenty of time and that is a fact.

Spiritual Budget

Spies also like to see the financial condition of the enemy and then counsel them to spend their money foolishly causing them financial crises.

“In the wilderness of temptation Christ overcame appetite. His example of self-denial and selfcontrol, when suffering the gnawing pangs of hunger, is a rebuke to the Christian world for their dissipation and gluttony. There is at this time nine times as much money expended for the gratification of appetite and the indulgence of foolish and hurtful lusts as there is given to advance the gospel of Christ.” Conf. p. 59. It might be good to make a spiritual budget sometime just to compare how much you put into the offering plate and how much you spend on non-essentials (items purchased merely, for self-gratification of appetite or materialism) and see where your heart is. Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Mat.6:21.

Hopefully, we don’t find an unbalanced budget with nine times as much being spent on self as on the Lord and His work. Satan makes us think we need all these other things and we can only spare the Lord a few coins on Sabbath.

Christ parlayed not with Satan When a country discovers a spy, they realize he has been lying all the time. It is no time to try to reason with them as he will take your words and report them to the enemy country. He is sold out to the enemy and it is best not to say anything anymore for fear of revealing more secrets, or that your words will be misconstrued.

“Christ knew that Satan was a liar from the beginning, and it required strong self-control to listen to the propositions of this insulting deceiver and not instantly rebuke his bold assumptions. Satan was expecting that the Son of God would, in His extreme weakness and agony of spirit, give him an opportunity to obtain advantage over Him by provoking Him to engage in controversy with him. He designed to pervert the words of Christ and claim advantage, and call to his aid his fallen angels to use their utmost power to prevail against and overcome Him. The Saviour of the world had no controversy with Satan.” Conf., p. 44/45.

Jesus saw that it was useless to enter into a debate or controversy with Satan. Today also, we must have the wisdom to see when Satan comes to us with controversial people, who do not want to follow the truth, but who only want to attack the church expecting us to defend it. They have no sincere desire to follow the Lord by joining with His church and marching with His people. They are Satan’s agents to try to take as many as possible away from the church. Jesus saw the uselessness of it and simply had nothing to say. When He was in Herod’s judgement hall, He spoke not a word. He knew that again, it would be useless, so it was best to leave things unsaid. He had said all He needed to say in the past and they refused to listen and follow. Herod had no desire to humble himself and confess his sin. He had an opportunity when John the Baptist rebuked him, but he turned away from the truth. The words of Jesus would not have been of any value.

They would have been twisted and perverted to suit Herod’s own ideas and purposes. In the wilderness “Christ did not appear to notice the reviling taunts of Satan. He was not provoked to give him proofs of His power, but meekly bore his insults without retaliation. Jesus did not condescend to explain to His enemy how He was the Son of God, and in what manner as such He was to act” Con., p.41/42.

We can learn from this. We don’t need to explain every detail as to why this is God’s church, to those who have no ears to hear the truth. Their desire is not to humble themselves and follow the Lord, but simply to demand proofs as Satan did of Jesus in the wilderness. They have their minds made up, they won’t believe you anyhow. Their goal is to confuse you into their way of thinking. They don’t believe this is God’s church and they don’t think you can prove it. Even if you did, they would not believe. It is dangerous to remain in the company of such people as we could eventually be deceived and it is such a waste of time. There are other sincere souls who are hungering and thirsting for truth that we could be taking time with. Satan wants us to waste our time with these souls that are not sincere so we will neglect to find and share the light with those who are.

Love of the world

The spy likes to tell the country he is deceiving that the enemy country is not really that bad and they should lighten up a little and not be so secretive. He encourages them to be a little slacker on their security.

Satan loves to tell us that the world is really not as bad a place as we first may have thought. There are many good things in the world that we should participate in. Things we have been strict about in the past, he likes to have us slacken up a little bit “It seemed to me, as these things were presented before me, that Satan had possessed such power to blind minds through a love of the world, that even professed Christians forgot, or lost all sense of the fact that God lives and that His angels are making a record of all the doings of the children of men; that every mean act, every small deal, is placed
upon the life record. Every day bears its burden of record of unfulfilled duties, of neglect, of selfishness, of deception, of fraud, of overreaching. What an amount of evil works is accumulating for the final judgment!

When Christ shall come, “His reward is with Him, and His work before Him,” to render to every man according as his works have been. What a revelation will then be made! What confusion of face to some as the acts of their lives are revealed upon the pages of history!” 2T, p. 160.

“And he has been successful in tempting man to indulge appetite, regardless of the result.” Conf, p, 57.

The Solution

Let the light in. “The best way to deal with error is to present the truth, and leave wild ideas to die out for want of notice. Contrasted with truth, the weakness of error is made apparent to every intelligent mind. The more the erroneous assertions of opposers, and of those who rise up among us to deceive souls, are repeated, the better the cause of error is served. The more publicity is given to the suggestions of Satan, the better pleased is his satanic majesty; for unsanctified hearts will be prepared to receive the chaff that he provides for them.” TMp. 165
Don’t fight the darkness. Let the light in and let the Lord do the fighting.

“Satan knows better than God’s people the power that they can have over him when their strength is in Christ.” IT, p. 341.

“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” In the near future we shall see these words fulfilled as the Protestant churches unite with the world and with the papal power against commandment keepers. The same spirit which actuated papists in ages past will lead Protestants to pursue a similar course toward those
who will maintain their loyalty to God.

“Church and state are now making preparations for the future conflict. Protestants are working in disguise to bring Sunday to the front, as did the Romanists. Throughout the land the papacy is piling up her lofty and massive structures, in the secret recesses of which her former persecutions are to be repeated. And the way is preparing for the manifestation, on a grand scale, of those lying wonders by which, if it were possible, Satan would deceive the very elect.” 5T, p. 449,450

This was written more than 100 years ago. How much closer are we to the time of the end today?
Closer than we think. Sister White says that the last events will be rapid ones and in the end some will cry that they knew that it would be quick, but not THAT quick. They will not be ready. Let us search our hearts to see if there are any hidden sins and not let Satan and his invisible spies come in to deceive us into believing we are ok, when we are really not. Only through strict obedience to the Word of God will we be saved. While God does not overlook one sin, He loves the sinner and will save all who corne to Him in penitence and confession. Not one will He reject or cast away. May God help us to connect ourselves to the love of Christ today.
AMEN

Wendy Eaton