Too Late

They say the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.  That's only half right.  The other half was convincing people they'd know me if they saw me.

Movies helped.  So did art.  You took some pagan goat demons, painted them bright red, and thought that was me, because if you could see me then I was less scary.  The red was a nice touch.  It's like your stop signs- a bright warning that you couldn't possibly miss.  That way you think you know what to look for and don't realize I'm already whispering in your ear.

Jesus was different, of course.  He knew I was there, so there was no sense in trying to hide.  I flattered Him, tempted Him to use his power for a greater good, feeding the hungry and conquering the nations to rule with wisdom and mercy.  I knew that if He became a ruler, He'd then become a tyrant, and love would no longer be an option once He wielded power every day.  The boy didn't fall for it, of course.  I'm still not sure whether I'm angry or proud.

You're not like that, are you?  Ruling the world isn't an option you have to consider.  But there's something that tempts you.  Maybe you lift a few dollars from the cash register at work; you deserve a raise anyway.  Maybe you don't give the money you have to people who need it because they'll just throw it away.  Could be when you shut out the immigrant or the Samaritan, since you have to think of your own family first.  For the person typing this, it's a mixture of pride and anger which leads him to try to humiliate those who don't live up to his moral standards.  Whatever it is, I know it, and I'm the one who tells you it's okay.  You call me the King of Lies, but I don't lie to you.  I just help you lie to yourself.

There's a good chance you're reminding yourself that this is all fiction, that I'm not real.  As if that makes the slightest difference.  Maybe there is no intelligent active being called the devil, but I'm a part of your life whether you like it or not.  What if you were to have a conversation with the devil?  You do it every day.