When I was young, I enjoyed spending time at my great aunt’s farm during my summer breaks. My cousin and I would take turns sleeping in the big bed with her at night. On one occasion, my aunt turned out the light and quickly fell asleep. I, however, could not fall asleep so swiftly. As I lay in the dark I began to hear a strange whooshing noise. It took me a second, but then I thought I recognized it. It was a bat! I quickly pulled the covers over my head and cowered. At that action, my aunt awoke and asked what I was doing. I explained, so she got up and turned on the light. She looked around the room and said, “Nope, no bat.”

If we walk in God’s ways we will not be blinded by what Satan puts in front of us. We will see the clear path and not stumble.

I felt relieved and quickly calmed after seeing the room was clear, but soon the noise was back and I was under the covers once more. My aunt chastised me for being paranoid and plainly told me, “There is no bat!” I turned on my side and barely uncovered my face over the edge of the bed while keeping my head securely covered the rest of the night. In the morning, my aunt informed me that she had gotten up in the middle of the night and killed the bat, which had been hiding under the shade when she got up in the night.

Our adversary Satan works much in the same way: He is the ruler of darkness. We are told, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). His deceptions are hidden within the darkness just like the bat in my aunt’s room. When he thinks he is about to be caught in his deception, he hides behind something that seems innocuous to us. He disguises himself as good, and if we’re not careful he will lead us astray (2 Corinthians 11:14; 2 Corinthians 11:3).

What God wants us to do is plainly laid out in His Word. Why then do so many decide to do things their own way? They make their own laws and celebrate days that are not established Holy Days. When we create and follow our own ways, we are not worshipping God as He wants us to. Remember, Satan often wraps what is evil to look good. We must be careful not to do the same. “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter” (Isaiah 5:20).

This also happens in many churches. We cannot believe what we hear just because someone has the title of pastor, minister or reverend says it is so. We also cannot believe what we hear because someone sounds learned or we like the person. Just as my aunt thought she knew the truth when saying there was no bat, we must be careful not to blindly believe. We need to read our Bibles. If we do, we will learn the truth and know it when we hear it. It is not for any man to decide what is right and wrong on his own. Yes, we have choices. However, if we want to call ourselves Christians, we must do it God’s way, not ours (2 Timothy 3:13; Matthew 24:24, Matthew 7:15).

When we stand in darkness we cannot see the bats that fly about our heads, but if there is even a little light we can see them. If they conceal themselves and we are diligent, we will find their hiding place. It is the same in Christianity. If we walk in God’s ways we will not be blinded by what Satan puts in front of us. We will see the clear path and not stumble and we will discover how to easily see through his deceptions and hidden meanings (Psalms 18:28). If not, our eyes will be blinded. “But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:23, emphasis added throughout).

We are told to expose the unfruitful works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11). What exposes darkness? Light! (John 1:5; Daniel 2:22). God wants us to want to be like Him and He is light. We cannot honestly say we are a part of God’s family if we do not walk in the light (1 John 1:5-6).

We are to be lights in a dark world. “You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness” (1 Thessalonians 5:5). In fact, we are told that if we practice evil we hate the light and want no part of it. (John 3:19-20) If we hate the light than we are actually turning against God who is Himself light. People hide from the light because they don’t want their sinful doings exposed. Much like the bat who hid away from the light.