Things are not always what they seem. I was reminded of that the other day when someone asked “What’s the purpose of TV?” I’m guessing that most people would say “Entertainment”. A few might suggest “education. But I believe both are wrong. The main purpose of TV is to sell you something. It is a business, and it’s all about the money. Now if we can be so easily deceived about something so obvious as that it can happen in many other ways. Con-men, politicians, religious hucksters, and others know it and make a practice of doing it. The results can be costly, even deadly.
It’s been said that “discouragement is the most effective tool in the devil’s workshop”, but I don’t believe it. I believe it is deception. We can trace that all the way back to Adam and Eve. Satan is a master counterfeiter. He uses whatever and whoever that serves his purpose. Our safety depends on our discernment, and that depends on a knowledge of the truth. We can’t afford to be deceived, especially when it comes to salvation. And if you own a Bible there is no reason to be deceived. It gives you all the information you need. It shows how God, through Christ, has provided exactly what you need.
If you are already a Christian, be vigilant. Although Satan can’t damn your soul he can ruin your life. Don’t fall into his trap. It might start out as a little thing, but it can be enough for him to get his foot in the door. He is an ever present danger, a fierce foe who is deceptive and determined. To accomplish his goal, the devil uses many deadly devices. In other words, he is planning and scheming for your downfall.
Going back to the TV question, there’s another issue you need to consider. What most people don’t realize is that most producers admittedly have an agenda besides making money. They use the programing to sway and shape public opinion by showing things that promote and support their views on various issues. They might present it in the form of humor, drama, or whatever appeals to people, but always with the intent of changing their views. And they are masters at it. But TV isn’t the only means used by Satan. Life is like a mine field and one wrong step can destroy you. That’s why we must “Be sober” and “vigilant“. Psalms 119:11 says, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” God’s Word “is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”(Psa. 119:105). —HDS
