When one is growing in the Lord and invites Jesus to sit on the throne on their heart, that light will begin to shine from within for all to see. There is a false light, one that comes from a counterfeit spirit. I’ve always heard new levels bring new devils. It’s one thing to hear a saying or scripture, but there is another revelation when you experience it. I encountered a fallen angel when I was up and feeling strong in the Lord. I was pumping gas at pump Number Five. I saw him coming before I ever met him. On the way to the station, I saw him walking and thought he was handsome. Bait. When I pulled up to pump Five and paid for my gas, he noticed my shirt. There was an image of a political leader on it, and he recognized him. I was impressed.
We began to converse, and I instantly was entranced by his beauty. He was a man, but he was beautiful. Like a diamond, something on the inside of him seemed to shine. His conversation and charm were undeniable. He asked for my number, but he had no paper or phone. He told me he would remember it. I was impressed. I gave him my number and I drove off. After a block and a half, I realized I didn’t even pump my gas. When I went back to the station, they said it was too late: someone else had filled up at the pump and there was nothing they could do.
Later that evening, the fallen angel called as he promised. I was impressed that he remembered my number. He sang to me. His voice was beautiful. He could make up songs in an instant. The first time we hung out, he had me pull up to a neighborhood, but I never saw what house he came out of. He brought me a plate of food. I thought he was sweet and thoughtful. He said he wanted to take me someplace new. I love new places. I drove as he led me up into the Oakland hills. I thought it was unique and special. We sat in the car and talked until the wee hours of the morning. He told me his stories of abandonment, of pain. I could relate and willingly held space with him. We kissed, and it was like fireworks. Our necks caressed one another like two lions in the wilderness. Then three shots went off. Warnings.
He began to speak about his faith in the creator. He mentioned that he believed in many gods and that Jesus was a prophet but not in fact God. I explained that I was a Christian and believed that Jesus was the son of God, the Savior of the whole world. Three more shots went off. This time, I paid attention. I realized I was in a game of chess. A line clearly drawn, sides of two different kingdoms represented. He spoke of how what he believed and I believed were not that far off. I explained how, in fact, they were. The last three shots went off. I knew I had to make a decision, since the truth was being revealed about this beautiful man. I said goodbye, confused about the transaction that just transpired. Was I overthinking? That wasn’t my last encounter with the fallen angel.
I met him again, almost like déjà vu. It was at the same gas station. He caught me on a vulnerable afternoon. I was lonely—I had not been intimate with a man on any level for two years. I was growing weary in the fight of waiting on the Lord to send my prince. The fallen angel called and promised to take me somewhere special. We met at the gas station and I drove as he guided me high into the Oakland hills. The excitement of the unknown destination and journey increased my adrenaline. When we finally parked, we were overlooking a beautiful view of the city. He whispered in my ear that if I would join him he would give me everything I could see and more. We talked. In reality, he talked. He talked about his dreams, his music, his heartache and pain. He took me to places from his childhood, and he told me about how he was an orphan and grew up without parents. I loved that part of him. I had compassion for him because I understood his pain.
At the end of the night, I completely forget our first encounter. Well, I drowned out our first encounter. I made it small and magnified all of the good I was experiencing with him. At the end of the night he revealed himself again, but this time he made sure to identify himself to the point I had no room to second-guess. He explained that he was a descendent of fallen angels. He would speak in Hebrew and talk about hidden languages. His spirit was strong, thick, and took over the atmosphere. BANG! BANG! BANG! The same three shots from our first encounter went off again. I realized I was a piece in a chess game. Two sides facing off, clear distinct lines drawn. Satan’s piece on one side, God’s Queen on the other. That was the day I realized spiritual warfare was not some type of catchy Christian phrase, but a reality going on in our everyday lives. Whether we are aware or not, we are constantly being pulled to choose a side. I also knew that if I didn’t choose a side that night and heed the signs that were revealed to me, I would be choosing to be taken away into the darkness. That was not the last time the darkness would try to persuade me to cross over. Every invitation was a deeper revelation and opportunity to make my election sure.