Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. (Rev. 13:14)
MATT HAD SAVED for months and was so excited when he was finally able to purchase a brand-new tablet. The screen glittered and the images were all so sharp. With a simple touch he was able to connect to his e-mail, chat with friends, listen to music, and search the Web. There was so much power in this small device that Matt found it both incredible and intoxicating.
At first Matt found that he would use his tablet for an hour or so before bedtime, usually while his wife was putting the kids to bed. However, it wasn’t too long before that hour or so stretched into searching social media during supper and scouring the Web during time with his wife. Every time his device made a sound, he felt compelled to check his e-mail, and his eyes became glued to that glittering screen for hours at a time.
The book of Revelation warns about evil disguised as power. Revelation 13:14, speaking of evil, embodied as the beasts of earth and sea states, “Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth.” The heavenly perspective challenges the idea that everything gleaming with power might have our best interest at heart.
Have the wisdom to recognize that great signs of power are not always from God.
Amy Knepp is a graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University and is a stay-at-home mother of four children.
