Forthright Magazine http://forthright.net/ Straight to the Cross Richard Mansel goes to the Bible to answer ... "The Most Important Question." Great for classes, groups, evangelistic studies and individuals. http://richardmansel.com/most-important-question/ COLUMN: LIVING THE FAITH The deception of darkness by Richard Mansel, managing editor http://tinyurl.com/7uro23l At the outset of World War II, the Nazis manufactured a war with Poland, invading the helpless country. Soon, the Germans began to systematically exterminate the Jews in places like Poland and Russia until six million Jews lost their lives. On the History Channel, "The Third Reich: The Fall" showed footage of a 21 year-old German soldier named Willy Peter Reese, home on leave from the killing fields of the East. Reese prepares a wood frame and hangs three stuffed animals from the top bar. Below them, he builds a fire which devours the stuffed animals. The voice-over contains a portion of Reese's writing. Marched into Russia. Murdered the Jews. Strangled the women. Killed the children. Everyone knows what we bring. These chilling words are borne of evil. They emanate from a heart and mind shrouded by the darkness of Satan (John 8:44). In this barren place exists confusion and destruction (Revelation 20:13-14). "The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble" (Proverbs, 4:19, NKJV). On the contrary, God's realm is light and there we find warmth, security and salvation. "This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5). "Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, 'I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.'" (John 8:12). Judas walked in the light of the Lord for three years feeling his love, goodness and majesty. Yet, Judas allowed Satan to fill his soul with darkness (John 13:30). Someone like Willy Peter Reese is not born in darkness (Ezekiel 18:19-20). We allow Satan to incrementally fill our lives until we lose our humanity (1 Peter 5:8). The more we give, the hungrier it becomes. No one becomes Hitler in a moment. It happens in small steps and the further we enter the cave, the darker and more confusing it becomes. We become mesmerized with his smooth words and his lure becomes insatiable. We ultimately become a weapon in his hand to destroy God's work (Matthew 4). Darkness will never make us better or more loving. We must stop today giving Satan an inch or he will take a soul. ---- Read this article online, write your reaction, and read others' comments as well. Click here: http://tinyurl.com/7uro23l You can help get the word out. Here's how: http://forthright.net/help/