Sometimes Christians get to a point in their faith where they feel secure. When they "let their guards down". The Bible warns us not to be too secure. (I Corinthians 10:12) " Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." Satan waits for us to give him any opportunity to pull us down. Satan already has the world so his work is in the Church. He is trying to make the saved the unsaved. Again, the Bible warns us to be sober and ready for these things. 

(I Peter 5:8-9) "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." 

The Bible warns us of many things to watch. It would be impossible to name them all, yet there are some that are overlooked at times and we are going to look at those things. Things that Satan frequently uses to pull Christians away. The first is marriage outside of the Church. I am not saying it is a sin, but it is certainly unwise. Let’s look at some Biblical examples. (I Kings 11:1-9) "But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites: Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father. Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods. And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice." Women were used sometimes by Satan as it seems to pull the faith of a man down. Why, if it were not for Herod’s marriage John the Baptist would have kept his head (Matthew 14:1-12). Christian men and women need to be selective when choosing mates. You will find that if Christ is the common ground and the center of the home there will be a lot less problems.

Popularity sometimes is a problem (John 12:42-43). The love of money can be a divider of faith (I Timothy 6:10). Pride can step between God and his children (Proverbs 16:18). How about our friends that often times corrupt us? (I Corinthians 15:33) " Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners." God tells us to come out from the world not stay there. (II Corinthians 6:17-18) "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." It seems as though Satan is good at using people we like or care about to come between Christians and God. Maybe that is why Christ said that we should love no one above him. (Matthew 10:34-39) "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it."

Whatever it is that may cause you to feel secure, heed the warnings of God. Do not be over confidant in your faith. Be on the defensive at all times. Remember that Satan does not have to "play by the rules". He will use anything against you that you will give him! 
 

Copyright 2001 by Brian Yeager may be reproducted for non-commercial purposes at no cost to others. www.christianlibrary.org