Lusts, Base Instincts and Appetites of the Flesh

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Satan talks a good game.

And the devil has to: after all, he has to first attract those he intends to destroy.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”
–1PETER 5:8

How does the arch deceiver play his game?

“I’ve nurtured every sensation man has been inspired to have. I cared about what he wanted and I never judged him. Why? Because I never rejected him—in spite of all his imperfections, I’m a fan of man! I’m a humanist. Maybe the last humanist.”
–John Milton (Satan), The Devil’s Advocate (1997)

Satan’s speech from the Devil’s Advocate sums up the devil’s basic game plan: Satan appeals to man’s lusts; to man’s base instincts (such as pride, arrogance and vanity); to man’s appetites.

He presents “never judging” as a good thing–instead of a characteristic which used to be called EXPERIENCE and WISDOM.

When the average reader hears “lusts, base instincts and appetites” the great majority first think of what is commonly referred to as “sex, drugs, rock ‘n’ roll.”

Perhaps after a few more minutes, other appetites of the flesh come to mind: eating and eating and eating some more (gluttony); strong drink (alcohol); smoking; clothes, drugs which attack man’s reason,  jewelry, shoes: the various knickknacks and trinkets of this world (the things of the world); whatever type of human attributes excite animal lust.

IF the reader thinks a bit more beyond this, he will, no doubt, come to some of the devil’s favorite ploys: appealing to man’s vanity and arrogance; offering the world’s acclaim; using pride and the desire to “want to be somebody.”

All of which the Bible calls “the pride of life.”

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
–1JOHN 2:15-16

There are several reasons why Satan uses man’s lusts, base instincts and appetites to snare his prey.

  1. Most men find it hard to control their appetites. Some have  likened controlling their lusts and appetites to controlling a bunch of chemicals.
  2. While most men can control some of their appetites, it is the rare man who can control them all–or at least give the impression he has them all under control.  While one man may find great joy in eating, another many have little resistance to pretty women or men.  Practically everyone knows of a person who is under the spell of drugs or alcohol–and it is fairly common to live next to someone who hungers for the world’s recognition.
  3. IF Satan can get a man thinking about losing control of his habits, over half his battle is won.
  4. Some appetites are barely kept in check.  It doesn’t take much to remove whatever controls a man might imagine he possesses. Satan supplies the “nudge” for a man to “break free” of his restraints.

It might be well for readers to keep in mind that “Satan is a tricky fellow.”

BUT, the reader should keep in mind:

the devil’s best tricks are usually associated with human weaknesses–such as lusts, base instincts and/or appetites of the flesh.

IS the reader aware that Satan is a master of exploiting human frailties?

It is not YET too late: there is still time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.

DOES the reader believe he is saved?

Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival

DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?

Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16

MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report

[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: January 20, 2020.]

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by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier

image: Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.com

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