Last year, the Secretary of State’s office at the Illinois Capitol in Springfield allowed the Satanic Temple in Chicago to display a monument, which was placed next to the Christmas Nativity scene and the Jewish Menorah to mark Hanukkah. With approval from the Secretary of State again this year, the Satanic Temple has erected their offensive monument. The monument depicts the forearm of Eve holding an apple, with a snake coiled around it.
As a Christian pastor, I can’t help but think this is another ploy from the enemy to get the attention off of Jesus and onto himself. Satan has always wanted to be “like God.” It was this prideful arrogance that cost him to be thrown out of heaven, awaiting his demise. If there’s a display in the Illinois State Rotunda that points to Jesus, of course Satan would counter it because he is the Great Counterfeiter. Satan’s aim is to draw away our devotion to Jesus. For every good thing God has, Satan has a counterfeit.
This isn’t the first time Satan has tried to counterfeit God. When God brought plagues upon Egypt, Pharaoh’s sorcerers tried to duplicate what God did. Exodus 7:10 says, “So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts.”
While the Bible talks about having sound doctrine (2 Timothy 1:13), Satan has a doctrine of his own to confuse and distort us (1 Timothy 4:1). Jesus resurrected from the dead (Matthew 28:6), Satan will confuse many by “raising” the anti-Christ from the “dead” (Revelation 13:3). Jesus is called the Light of the World (John 8:12), and Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).
When Elijah was facing off the prophets of Baal, they tried to come up against the God of Israel, but completely failed. In fact, 1 King 18:26 says, “And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made.”
His days are short and he knows it.
So, how are we to respond to this deception in our Capitol? First, we need to pray for those who are deceived and whose eyes have been blinded.
As the prophets of Baal heard nothing from their “god”, the hope of those who follow the god of this age is deeply rooted in lies and deception. As the prophets of Baal heard no voice with no one answering them, today’s followers too have no hope, no peace and certainly no future. They desperately need the Prince of Peace. They need the greatest Hope this world has ever known: Jesus. Let’s commit to praying this week for those who are incredibly deceived from the greatest counterfeiter, Satan.
Secondly, we need to let our elected officials know that the celebration of Satan, the author of wickedness, death and destruction, is unacceptable. Honoring the adversary of humanity with a platform in our Capitol Rotunda is absolutely repugnant.
Take ACTION: Click HERE to contact your state lawmakers and Secretary of State Jesse White’s office to let them know how offensive this vile display is. You can also call the Secretary White’s office at (217) 782-2201.
Make a decision to stand for Jesus.
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