Snares Of Satan

Have you ever felt that you have been caught in a trap, that you are not free; when you do not like the situation in which you are. The circumstances tie you down, and it maybe also the bad habits that hold you down as a victim to them, or any sin that you have not been able to overcome.

There are people who make their living by trapping animals. They set their traps and snares in the places where the animals normally go. Then they use baits, something that the animals like to eat, and they themselves go into hiding. When the poor creature is about to eat the bait, the trap closes on him and he is not able to get out anymore.

To catch fish many different baits and lures are used. The fish that is about to eat the tasty bait will himself be eaten by the fisherman.

The birds fly in the air and see a delicious fruit to eat, but as they approach it their feet are caught in a string and they cannot escape.

Some animals are hunted by poison that is mixed in a seemingly good food.

So dear is freedom even to the animals that a fox that is caught in a trap has bitten his leg off in order to free himself.

You may say that these animals are foolish by reaching for the bait that will kill them. But they did not know that there was a hidden trap, until it was too late and they could not escape. They were deceived to believe that they are about to get something good when in reality they fell into the trap that killed them.

What about us? Are there traps and snares set for us to fall in? There most certainly are. On the right and left all along the way there are shares, traps and strings attached. There are poisons mixed in apparently good things. And millions after millions are caught in the snares of Satan. They are hoping to get something good but end up with misery, unhappiness and in the end, death.

Satan set up a snare for Adam and Eve and they fell into it, thinking that they will gain something worthwhile, but in reality they lost it all.

Soon the whole world were caught in his snares except the family of Noah who alone escaped them.

In the time of Christ even the church of God was caught in his snares, being blinded and hypnotized by Satan that only few were able to escape his deceptions, and recognize Jesus as the only one who could set them free.

Especially in the time of the end, Satan is trying to deceive even the very elect. In the First World War in 1914, almost the whole church of God was deceived. 98% of the members decided to break God?s commandments and only two percent in Europe escaped Satan?s snares and remained faithful to God.

Satan is using many different baits on us. If one does not work, he tries another one.

David writes of one very common snare in what many are caught. ‘Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.’ Ps. 69:22.

Paul writes, ?Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly.? Phil. 3:19. Satan has been very successful in using forbidden foods and drinks as a bait to lure Christians into his snares.

Flattery is also a bait that many cannot resist. ‘A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet. In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare.’ Prov. 29:5, 6.
Rebuke is much safer to us than flattery and praise; it prevents us from becoming proud and self-exalted.

Another snare of Satan we find in the Psalms, ‘But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works, and they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.’ Ps. 106: 35, 36.

Unbelieving friends and companions are dangerous baits that Satan is using. People who are serving many idols of which some are entertainments, sports, ambition, and a thousand others, have a strong influence to lead others to follow their example.

Also false religion is a bait that Satan is using very successfully. Millions are caught in this snare. They are offered salvation without obedience. The closer the false religion is to the truth, the more deceptive it is. It is like a poison added to healthy food, which will kill the one who eats it.

A very deceptive bait that has destroyed many is the love of money. ?But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.? 1 Tim. 6: 9, 10.

‘The most earnest prayers should be solicited for those who are placed in prosperous positions. These men are in the greatest danger of losing their soul.’ Evang., p. 561.

‘Solomon, by his alliance with unbelievers, secured an abundance of gold and silver, but his prosperity proved his ruin.’ CH, p. 290.

?Affliction and adversity bring disappointment and sorrow; but it is prosperity that is most dangerous to spiritual life.’ MH, p. 212.

Judas fell for this bait. He did gain money, but did not enjoy it very long.

Also Balaam fell into this snare but did not enjoy his gain either because soon after he lost his life.

All who commit sin are caught in Satan?s snares. He controls the mind and hypnotizes the person that he himself does not anymore realize his lost condition.

‘?I was shown Satan as he once was, a happy, exalted angel. Then I was shown him as he now is. He still bears kingly form. His features are still noble, for he is an angel fallen. But the expression of his countenance is full of anxiety, care, unhappiness, malice, hate, mischief, deceit, and every evil? As I beheld him, his chin was resting upon his left hand. He appeared to be in deep thought. A smile was upon his countenance, which made me tremble, it was so full of evil and satanic slyness. This smile is the one he wears just before he makes sure of his victim, and as he fastens the victim in his snare, this smile grows horrible.’ EW, p. 152, 153.

Satan has set thousands of baits and lures all around us. If we fall into any of them it is very difficult to break loose from them.

‘He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.’ 1 John 3:8.

Yet it is possible to escape from these snares; but not in our own strength. It is the great mercy of God that He helps us to be free from these snares of Satan.

‘Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.’ Ps. 124: 6-8.

‘Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? But thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him the contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.’ Isa. 49:24, 25.

‘And ye shall know the truth, and truth shall make you free. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.’ John 8:32, 36.

Our work in this Reformation is to set the captives of Satan free.

‘Is not this the fast that I have chosen’ to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke” Isa. 58:6.

‘In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.’ 2 Tim. 2:25, 26.

When someone is caught in Satan?s snare the process of destruction begins. Satan wants to make sure that there is no chance of escape. It is compared to a burning in a fire.

‘And others save with fear, pulling them out of fire; hating even the garment spotted by flesh.’ Jude 23.

Even Joshua the high priest, who was the highest religious leader was burning in Satan’s captivity. But the Lord came to his rescue. ‘And the Lord said unto Satan, the Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of fire” Zech. 3:2.

In Satan’s captivity a person gets constantly more set in evil ways. He becomes more selfish, more proud, more covetous and so on. He must practice sin, because he is not free. Every sin that we commit weakens our faith until we lose it completely, and then there is no more hope of salvation.

As long as there is even a little hope the Lord will try to save us to the uttermost. ‘A bruised reed shall He not break, and a smoking flax shall He not quench: He shall bring judgment unto truth.’ Isa. 42:3.

The thief on the cross seemed to be beyond help; but yet Jesus saw something good in him and did not neglect him, but in the last moments of his life, pulled him out of fire and saved him.

David had committed a grievous sin, and was stricken by remorse. He said, ‘For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.’ Ps. 51:3.

‘There is no soundness in my flesh because of Thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.? Ps. 38:3.

There was no peace in his troubled soul. The burden of sin was heavy upon him until he fled to his Saviour. He writes of this experience, ‘In the Lord put I my trust: now say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain.’ Ps. 11:1.

There he found peace to his soul. There his sin was washed away. Now he can say, ‘Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them.’ Ps. 119:165.

Still today there is the city of refuge for the guilty sinner to escape, where Jesus is waiting with open arms to embrace even the greatest sinner and set him free from the chains of Satan. Do not let the fire of sin to consume any longer; today run to your Saviour, and you will find peace to your soul, and fullness of joy. AMEN.

Timo Martin, Canada