There is a story in Greek mythology about Hercules, the great hero, coming home to his wife and children. To his horror, when he opened the door, he saw what he thought were little monsters. He chased them and killed them, only to see more monsters and kill them as well. As soon as Hercules finished, his eyes were opened; he realized the "monsters" he had slain were actually his own wife and children. Hercules had been placed under a spell by the goddess Hera. He was spiritually blinded, and those he thought were his enemies were actually his family. Hercules was on "enchanted ground," and his actions proved disastrous.
We, too, are under a spell. Humanity is under a spell. Ever since our first mother, Eve, stepped onto Satan's enchanted ground in the Garden of Eden and ate the forbidden fruit, the enemy of our souls has placed a dark covering over our eyes. If it were not for God's intervention, we would forever remain his captives. Praise be to God for putting enmity between us and the devil! Have you ever wondered why you do the things you do? Why you have conflict with those you claim to love? Why human beings hate one another even though we are one family? It is because we are under the spell of Satan.
You want to do what is good, but you find yourself doing what is evil. You want to say what is sweet and kind, but you find yourself saying what is hateful and damaging. Friends, we do these things because we are under a spiritual "blindness." Sin is not merely a natural phenomenon; it is a spiritual power. The sinner is under the influence of Satan, blinded into doing his will. Like Hercules in the myth, many of us see each other as monsters or enemies. We go about destroying one another, not realizing we are hurting a fellow creature of God—someone who is meant to inherit the kingdom of heaven with us.
Sin is blinding! The devil has obscured our vision of what is true, leading us into self-destruction and the destruction of others. Have you ever done something and then thought to yourself, "What have I done? How could I have been so foolish?" The truth is that you were blinded. It is often easier to see the madness in others than in ourselves. We look at the mass shooter or the serial cheater and say they are insane, but it is hard for us to see our own blindness. Who shall deliver us?
The reality is that once you step into Satan's enchanted ground—which is sin—you are in trouble. Once you commit sin, Satan places a veil over your spiritual eyes and takes you captive at his will. He guides you from one act of destruction to the next. You may see the path, but you will feel unable to escape it. People often say, "I don't know what came over me." The truth is that a more powerful, evil mind overpowered their own will. Sin is dangerous.
Understanding that we are under a spell makes praying to Jesus for deliverance more urgent. It also makes having compassion for others essential. When people hurt you, remember that they, too, are under a spell. When those close to you wound you, it is the devil leading them. Unless we pray for them and show compassion, we may drive them further into the arms of the wicked one. Our friends, families, and coworkers are all struggling against this same influence. The more we sin, the deeper the spell becomes. We need deliverance!
I thank God for Jesus Christ. He alone can deliver us from this blinding spell; He alone can set us free from Satan's delusive infatuation. But to remain free, we must flee from sin. We must stay off enchanted ground by being careful about what we watch, listen to, or do. As Jesus opens our eyes, we must pray for the Lord to break Satan's hold over others. When you understand that people are blinded, you will spend more time interceding for them than cutting them off.
As we near the end of time, we can see this blinding influence increasing. Humanity is becoming more destructive. But God is calling us to flee from sin and stay in prayer. Now I understand more clearly why Jesus told us to love our enemies and pray for those who abuse us. It is because they are being used by the devil. If we show them love, Christ is revealed in us, and the spell may be broken. Let us pray earnestly for sight, for "Give me sight, Lord" is my prayer.
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