Liars

On Sunday morning, with your cup of coffee, you like to sit down and check the paper, see what’s going on in the area for the coming week. You’re one of the throwbacks that still likes to read the good old fashioned hands-on newspaper, the apps on your phone are great for just about everything else, but this brings back memories from when your dad used to sit and read the paper on the weekend. The smell of coffee brewing, and mom made some delicious pancakes and bacon every Sunday morning.

Anything fun to do next weekend? A festival at the fairgrounds sounds perfect! There’s a road closure starting this week on your route to work…ugh! You’ll have to leave ten minutes early for the next several weeks. You happen to scan the obituaries and see that an older neighbor from your childhood passed away. You really should squeeze in a visit to the funeral home tomorrow night. You used to play with her daughter all the time and are still friends on social media. Maybe check your horoscope just for fun. It was so close the last time, how could it possibly be that accurate?? And that’s the third time in just a couple of months that it’s been right!

Pulling up to the funeral home you see a couple of the girls you used to play with. You park and go over to chat. Everybody’s kids and hubbies are doing great. The rat-race is taking its toll you notice. They all look so tired. You wonder if that’s how you look. Heading in, you scan the crowd for Lisa and spot her right away. She looks a mess. She was so close to her mom, and her dad passed away a year or two ago, you meant to go to the funeral home but life was too busy. She sees you and motions for you to come over. She almost falls into your arms and you hug her hard. The two of you were best buds back in the day. You make a mental note to call her for lunch when things settle down.

The usual chat ensues. Mom passed so suddenly, Lisa wishes she had more time with her. When her dad passed they had been expecting it, he was sick for so long. She still had a hard time though until she went to see a medium and got to talk to him. He said he’s at peace now and not to worry about him. Maybe she’ll go talk to someone about her mom too. It helped so much. Lisa asks if you want to go, maybe you could talk to your aunt. The rest of the evening passes quickly and you head home and fall into bed exhausted but can’t sleep.

What about going to see a medium? You do really miss Aunt Ida. She was like a second mom. You spent so much time with her when you were a kid. When Lisa went to talk to someone about her dad they told her things that no one else could have known. She felt so good afterward and it was such a comfort. Maybe you should give it a try. You know the Bible says something about mediums and spirits but… this was so helpful for your friend. It can’t hurt, maybe it will give you some answers to questions that have been nagging at you. You’ve been meaning to get back to church but life is crazy hectic with the kids and work. Sunday morning is your only chance to relax for a few minutes before baseball practice in the afternoon.

The merry-go-round of life continues and you forget all about it. A month later the phone rings and it’s Lisa. She made an appt for the medium next week and wants to know if you’re interested. Starting to make excuses, you don’t know how you could possibly fit it in, Lisa says that she mentioned you and the girl said it will help with your “nagging questions”. That makes you pause, why did she use that exact wording? But still, you just don’t have any time. You only have one evening free in the next few weeks. Getting frustrated you ask when the appt is. It just happens to be the one free evening you have. You hesitate but then decide why not?! You’ve been meaning to reconnect with Lisa anyway. You ask if she wants to go out for dinner first since the appointment isn’t until 8p.m. As you hang up the phone you’re feeling pretty good. You’re spending time with an old friend and maybe, just maybe, you’ll get some answers. Even if this lady’s a fake, you’ll be right where you started, so no harm done.

The Bible warns about the dangers of seeking out mediums, fortune-tellers, and psychics. The devil is a liar and the father of lies, John 8:44- "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it." NKJV His goal is never to help us or to comfort us. He wants to deceive all people. The Bible clearly tells us in Hebrews 9:27 that it is appointed for us to die once and afterward the judgement. There is no communication with the dead, they are not roaming around in limbo to communicate with us. So, if it's not a loved one that we are actually communicating with, who is it?

2 Corinthians 11:14 tells us that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. He wants nothing except the destruction of and deception toward mankind. He will use any means to deceive us so that we don't know and follow Christ. If we are not communicating with our loved one who has passed from this life then the alternative is that Satan and his demons are communicating with those who choose to seek out mediums and the like and impersonating the deceased. The devil knows enough about us and our loved one that he can share information that we feel like only our dearly departed should know. He is a deceiver and will do anything in his power to deceive us and keep us from following the truth of God's word. The devil's full-time job is to steal, kill, and destroy. John 10:10. But in the second half of that verse, the Lord tells us that He (Jesus) came so that we could have abundant life.

What does that mean? Does it mean that we will have no troubles and no problems ever? No, but it does mean that we can have eternal life in heaven with Jesus. And the Lord will be with us through troubles and heartache. When many of us think of the "devil", if we even believe he might be real, we think of terrible things that people do, like murder and things along those lines. But, he is tricky, his endgame is to take as many people to Hell with him as possible. Since most people think murder is a horrific thing, he isn't going to try to tempt you with that, BUT, maybe just the things that look innocent and even good. How can talking to your dear relative or friend that isn't with us anymore hurt anything? It gives us a sense of comfort.

A false sense of comfort or power is a tactic the devil will use every opportunity he gets. Don't let him trick you into believing in a lie. The Bible speaks of the way to true life. Pick up your Bible and check it out. God is the true God of hope. All Satan has to offer is a temporary and untrue encouragement with one and only one end, eternity away from the True God and Lord of the universe!