Of Rats and Their Flutes

Most people are familiar with the fairy tale of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. The infamous rat catcher, who lured rodents from the village with his magical pipe, was then denied the fee he had requested. Enraged, he led the children from their homes, just as he had the rats, never to be seen again. What wonders, what delights, the children must have imagined when they heard him play! Whatever it was, they heard his music, and followed him, destination unknown.

I used to converse with a woman who claimed to be psychic. I asked her how she knew she was talking to the spirit of the dead, rather than, for example, something demonic. "Well," she responded. "You trust your feelings. Good spirits give you a feeling of warmth and love, while evil spirits make you feel anxious or afraid."

That explanation, I'm afraid, doesn't make sense on any level.

Wouldn't it be nice if bad people acted in such a way that you just immediately knew they were bad? The Deposed Prince of Whereeverstan, for example, could start his constant emails to you with, "Dear sir or madam, I'm a con-man, and I'd like to give you the opportunity to send me your bank account information so I can steal from you." But that's not how it works. Instead, they try to appeal to your nature: your greed, perhaps, or even your generosity. They find a way into your life, and then turn you against yourself and reap the rewards.

Doesn't it make sense that the enemy of God would work the same way? Doesn't it make sense that, if Satan were to appear to you in an attempt to lead you astray, he would come in a way that would be comforting and inviting? Doesn't it make sense that the wrong thing to do would be made to seem like the right thing?

And indeed, not only Satan, but all who work (knowingly or otherwise) in his service act in exactly that manner.

 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

Sin seems right. Nobody wants to think of himself as a "bad person," and so we convince ourselves of the rightness of what we want to do. But do not be deceived. Sin feels good for the exact purpose of leading you away from God's will. False teachers tickle your ears and make you feel good about yourself because they (whether they know it or not) are leading you away from God. God's truths are hard. The way to Heaven is narrow and difficult. Ear-tickling sermons and feel-good temptations are nothing more than a pied piper, leading you away from the Truth of God.