“the god of this world!”

 2 Corinthians 4:1-6                                 (ESV)

“1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of GOD, WE DO NOT LOSE HEART.

2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with GOD’S WORD, but by the open statement of the TRUTH we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of GOD.

3 And even if our gospel is veiled, IT IS VEILED TO THOSE WHO ARE PERISHING.

4 In their case “the god of this world” has BLINDED the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the LIGHT of the gospel of the glory of CHRIST, who is the image of GOD.

5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but JESUS CHRIST as LORD, with ourselves as your servants for JESUS’S sake.

6 For GOD, WHO said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of GOD in the face of JESUS CHRIST.”

Human nature draws us to avoid those who are different than ours, whose morals are counterintuitive than THE MIND OF CHRIST.  Those who are following after “the god of this world” are not able to SEE, for they are BLINDED by him.  “The enemy” traps them in a vortex of deception and lies, and they are unable to escape long enough to SEE TRUTH.  Some are really good people, and perform many “good works” to validate the assertion that their “good works” will be enough at the JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST.   

Regrettably, failing to identify “the god of this world” is not something that is foreign to the majority of people.  Blaming IMPERFECT Believers is a favorite tool to justify their “BLINDNESS”!  So many times people uses the reasoning “that’s the way GOD made me” as an excuse for “doing what they want”!  NO ONE has the ability within themselves to enter Heaven.  As a matter of fact, Romans 3:10-11 says “as it is written: "NONE IS RIGHTEOUS, no, NOT ONE; NO ONE understands; NO ONE seeks for GOD.”  JESUS to Nicodemus in John 3:7 “You MUST be born again”!  We are a broken people, and JESUS IS OUR FIX!  

Satan, the great deceiver, “the enemy” of Creation, is “the god of this world”, and we are in dire need of identifying him, AND naming his deception!  For those who EYES have yet to be OPENED, Scripture says “IT IS VEILED TO THOSE WHO ARE PERISHING”!  They are unable to SEE TRUTH and are fine with their choices.  Choosing NOT to admit their error is a FATAL mistake, so THE WORD must be presented to them IN LOVE so that the HOLY SPIRIT will be free grow that SEED in their hearts!  Romans 10:17 states “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the WORD OF CHRIST.”  Only CHRIST can remove the blinders from “the god of this world”!  

It can be difficult to share with someone that their works (actions) are indicative of an unregenerate person?  However, if they are on “the broad way that leads to destruction” (Matthew 7:13), we would be derelict to let them proceed with NO WARNING!  “The god of this world” has already been sentenced to his eternal penalty.  It should be our goal to SHARE THE WORD to as many as GOD leads us to in an effort to be used by the HOLY SPIRIT to change a course for even one!!!