Sucker Punched by Masked Deception

Halloween is a controversial affair that comes once a year on October 31^st.  It is fun for kids of all ages to enter into the festivities and merriment that accompany this day. 

The lack of nervousness toward goblins and the like allows people to embrace and celebrate its coming, much like a masquerade ball or similar venue.  Others frown on its evil perception and forbid their children from participating. 

The internet provides extensive clarification of the baseline beginning of Halloween, leading up to commercial and secular undertones in present day living.  It is interesting reading.

Halloween involves dressing up in masks and costumes, carving jack-o’-lanterns out of pumpkins and trick-or-treating around the neighborhoods and in nearby shopping malls.  There are decorations of skeletons and witches everywhere, and pictures of vicious looking bats and monsters.  Masks of every kind, for all personalities, are seen far and wide.

A mask hides the identity of the wearer, which brings me to today’s thought.  It was customary for outlaws in the old west to wear bandannas over their nose to conceal their identity. 

Covering one’s face still holds true today when committing crimes, because of the consequences that befall them if caught.  Masks are often used rather than neckerchiefs.

I have heard the expression, “You can’t tell a book by its cover,” which can apply to the above scenario as well as the following notion.  I see people wearing dust masks when the pollen count is high and also in doctor’s waiting rooms for health reasons.  They are not going to steal someone’s purse or try and lift a wallet or two, although this has probably been tried.

What is in the mind of a person wearing a mask—deception or nothing to worry about?  I guess we just have to be aware and remain alert.  Deception and purity of heart can run a close parallel, especially when trickery is masked.  It is hard to distinguish one from the other.

Deception comes in different forms and is disguised to appear as light, but behind the sham is the darkness of everything bad.  Satan is the master at deceiving people.  If we allow our mind to turn a blind eye to false teachings that appear as truth, heartache is around the corner.  We must remain vigilant.  

If something seems a little off and that small voice inside is saying, “Look out,” proceed with caution, or better yet, run from the bearer that is pushing their agenda, which goes contrary to God’s Word.  It is not of God.  

Guard against being enticed by any form or mask that the devil puts on, because we run the risk of being hurt by the results of our lackadaisical disregard to things we suspect as being wrong, even though outwardly they resemble truth.

Satan is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.  He is like a thief that wants to rob life from us with all of its fullness and joy.  His goal is to kill and destroy God’s greatest creation—you and me. 

We must protect our mind from non-truths and not be sucker punched by masked deception.  God removes the scales from our eyes so that we can see clearly the workings of despicable vermin that seek to devour us.  God desires that we have life.

(John 10:10)  “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

(1 Peter 5:8)  “Be sober; be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

The Holy Spirit sheds light on the darkness that surrounds pitfalls of deception, even though they appear to be somewhat acceptable to Christian living.  That which is hidden by the mask Satan wears is exposed, revealing the true nature of his evil ways. 

We need not fear the enemy of our soul, because God gives us the where-with-all to resist the deceptive beauty of Satan’s method of trickery.

Satan schemes to bring to pass a systematic plan for attaining our trust; a secret or underhanded arrangement to separate us from God’s love—a trick.  Remember trick-or-treat?

The devil always tricks and never treats a person with dignity, consideration, or love.  He is cold, insensitive, and has a cruel disregard for humanity.  He is callous and full of iniquity.  No wonder he wears a mask.  He wants to sucker punch the human race in its entirety.

Lucifer, as he was named, paints pictures of splendor on canvases smeared with dung and crustacean.  When the perceived magnificence of his trickery fades, the stench of rotting filth quickly comes forth. 

With God’s help we will never hang his worthless paintings on the walls of our heart.  God is good all the time.  His love never fails.  

Written by,

Papa Boyd