“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” – James 4:7
The Devil is a Liar
The devil has a counterfeit for every truth of God and wants to make everything that is good look bad, and everything that is bad look good. The devil doesn’t want us to be healthy so it will be easier for him to have power over us. This is true for everything in this world, including food. Following what is trendy and what the majority of people go after, can be harmful. As the Bible says:
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” – Matthew 7:13-14
We might think that the laws of God are legalistic and inconvenient, but they are not at all. Those who are doing as they please are actually bound and become slaves to Satan, often without knowing it, and many are often unhappy with their situation. But the truth sets us free.
Laws, Freedom
About the laws and freedom, the Bible says:
- “If ye love me, keep my commandments” – John 14:15
- “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” – 1 John 5:51
- “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” – John 8:32
Bible Verses About Satan
- “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” – Revelation 12:9-10
- “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” – 1 Peter 5:8
- “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” – Ephesians 6:11
- “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”- 2 Corinthians 11:14
- “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” – John 8:44
- “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?”- Isaiah 14:12-17
In the End, Deception will be More Intense
There is no time in history when people have been more bombarded with so many wrong messages than today. The deception in the very last days is going to be so powerful and effective that even many elects will be deceived.
“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”- 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”
– Matthew 24:24-27
Before Christ’s Return
Jesus told His disciples that before his second coming, things would be just as before the flood:
“But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”
– Matthew 24:37-39
There is nothing wrong with eating, drinking, and getting married. The Bible obviously tells us how everything was and will be taken in excess and intemperance, without love for God, like it was also the case for Sodom and Gomoreh:
“And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; 21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.” – Genesis 18:20-21
“Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” – Luke 17:28-30
Gluttony in Today’s World
Today, we can see how eating and drinking is taken to excess. While many in the world lack food, others over eat to the point they get weak and sick. We often don’t realize the way food marketers get us to buy their products. Temptation is big and is very often hard to resist. And many times, what is good for us looks bad, but what is bad for us looks good. And when we finally open our eyes and realize how unhealthy we eat is, and that we decide to make a lifestyle change, it is often a struggle. Learn more about how you can have victory over eating temptations from page 96.