We Are Forbidden From Doing What They Do

"When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations." Deuteronomy 18:9 God was preparing Israel to go into the promised land, just as he is preparing believers today to enter heaven. All the lands around the promised land were polluted with idolatry, and God was making it very clear to the Israelites that the practices of those peoples were abominations before him and that they absolutely must NOT take on any of those practices. Then to make it clearer, he lists them. vs 10-11 There shall not be found among you . anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, . or one who uses divination, (divination: the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means.) . or an observer of times (astrology, horoscopes) . or an enchanter (one who casts spells) . or a witch, or a charmer, . or a medium (fortune teller), . or a channeler, (one who "downloads" thoughts from someone dead) . or necromancer (one who contacts the dead.) The Lord solemnly warns Israel that they must not touch any of these things, and states that any PERSON who touches any of these things is an ABOMINATION to God. Not just the practice is an abomination, but the person who does them is an abomination to God. vs 12: "For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord…" Furthermore, he adds, it is BECAUSE these peoples were steeped in idolatries such as he listed - that is WHY God was driving the inhabitants of the land out. vs 12: "...and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you." Folks, these practices are deadly and throughout the Scriptures God solemnly warns his people to stay away from them. There are two sources of supernatural power: God and Satan. Do not think for a moment that Satan doesn't have power. Oh he has power alright, and he has power to lead people into such deception that from there he can lead them right into hell. Satan is the source of lies and all the things listed above are means of conveying LIES meant to ensnare and destroy you. Jesus said of Satan: "...there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own, for HE IS A LIAR, and the father of it." John 8:44 What lies have you fallen for? Has Satan convinced you that dabbling in any of the things listed, or anything similar, are just innocent fun? Know that nothing of it is innocent, it's all deadly, and that every dabbling in these things brings a curse not only onto you, but to your children down to the third and fourth generation. Satan doesn't present himself as evil, he presents himself as desirable. If he came as a grotesque caricature no one would even think to listen to him. No, he always presents his enticement as something good, something desirable, something fun. Thus he deceives people and lures them to destruction. Know this: the purpose, the end game of Satan, is to destroy you. Little lies, then greater lies, and he achieves his objective. What lies has Satan convinced you of? Think about it. Think long and hard. For he approaches EVERY person with lies. Which lies have you fallen for? Jesus said, "I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life." John 14:6 Jesus does not present the truth as something lovely, though it is. The truth can be very painful. But receiving it will set you free. "If you abide in my Word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and THE TRUTH shall set you free.” John 8:31-32 To follow Jesus Christ is to abide in truth, sometimes in painful truth, USUALLY in painful truth. But it is only the truth that can set a person free. The truth stands opposed to the lies of Satan. The truth stands opposed to all the works of the devil, and Jesus stands in your life and mine, showing us the lies we have fallen for and drawing us out of the lies, drawing us out of all the works of the devil - to set us free. "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might DESTROY the works of the devil." 1 John 3:8 Father, I pray in the name of Jesus for anyone reading this who has been deceived by the "beautiful lies" of Satan - that today you would reveal that to them. Oh Father, how the multitudes go happily into destruction, and how it grieves your heart. Show them the truth I pray. Open their eyes to see it and their hearts to receive it and lead them out of gross deception into the truth that will truly set them free.