“For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting” (Galatians 6:8)
A tree can look relatively good from the outside; but inside it is decaying, infested with insects that are attacking its core. We are exhorted: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23). Satan is subtle. He is a whisperer, calling into question what God has said and who God is. Can God really be trusted? Is He really good? Are His promises reliable? Such whisperings are meant to drive a wedge between us and God. “A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends” (Prov. 16:28).
Because Satan is so alienated from God, he hates nothing more than a man or woman who is connected to God. “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat” (Lk. 22:31). His method to disconnect relationship is always to sow division. To that end, he is a slanderer. The very word devil is “diabolos” which means “slanderer.” His slanders sow seeds of strife. They are the insects that cause corruption in the core of our being.
Jesus was not ignorant of the devil’s devices. He called him out: “Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men” (Mt. 16:23). Satan is always pointing men’s minds to what they have of bad in this life, and what they don’t have of good. He is the author of bitterness, envy, and depression; and he is always wanting to implicate God as the main culprit for our misery. Satan would have us mind the things of the flesh. He would create a mind at enmity with God. “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God” (Rom. 8:5-7).
We cannot afford to be at odds with God. We desperately need His continual ministry to our spirit. When our heart is open and tender toward Him there are a thousand new things He will show us. But when our heart has hardened toward Him, a thousand things we once well knew, will be forgotten. We will reap corruption, the loss of the good that was in our soul.
Saint of God: guard your heart with all diligence. You have an adversary who goes about seeking whom he may devour. Wear the whole armor of God that you may stand in the day of his attack. Beware of the slanders that breed spiritual decay.