“He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the presence of people” (Revelation 13:13).
The wicked one cannot create anything. He can only pervert what the Lord creates. He uses tricks and deception, and people fall for it. No great signs will be done, just tricks. Only the Lord raises the dead. Do not fall for the lies of those who deceive. This is a warning. In our desire to find what only the Lord can give, we love to be titillated and wooed by our emotions. Be on guard and look to the Lord.
Lord, when I am tossed about by the waves of this world, it is my own fault. I want love, so I settle for feelings. I want solace, so I settle for worldly words wrapped in a pleasant tune. I ignore what is obvious and settle for a lie. Lift me out of my selfish desires to be serious about the faith You have given me. Guide me in Your goodness to know that I am completed only in You and in nothing else.
Savior of my soul, clear my eyes so that I do not fall for the claptrap of this age. Keep me on the path where my hope is in You alone. Help me to not give in to the temptation to settle for anything less than the truth. Help my walk to be firm, my conviction to stand firm, and my ability to understand the nonsense to be keen. You have saved me by Your shed blood. Keep me in the salvation You died for. Amen.
