A counterfeit is only good if it looks like the real thing, and there are con men who dedicate their entire lives to the art of cheating someone out of a dollar, their livelihood, or their life.

According to infamous hustlers, great con men succeed in three areas. First, they are good listeners. Forget about that silver tongue. A cheater knows how to patiently listen for pertinent information they can then twist for their own purposes.

Second, hustlers can fool someone through social credentials. A simple business card lends an air of authenticity to a man, though his skill set may be poor. If he’s socially accepted, he must be okay, right?

Third, the best con men in the world agree…the art of the perfect deception requires research. They must study their mark with diligence. Waiting, watching for the perfect time and place to strike. 

The enemy of our souls is the master con man. He’s a hustler and deceiver, the father of lies. And he has all three of these credentials down to a craft.

Satan is not all-knowing but he does watch and hear. He listens. He twists words, feelings and thoughts into a distorted version of the truth. And any truth mingled with deception is a lie.

You ever wonder why Satan is called a roaring lion, yet Jesus is called the Lion of the tribe of Judah? I have a theory. Satan loves to counterfeit God. He’s a fraud. He imitates but can’t deliver. God offers life and provides it. Satan offers life but brings death. Peace versus chaos. Hope versus despair. And just because everyone else falls for his lies doesn’t make him genuine. It only makes them duped. 

As for the third marker of a con man, the enemy of our souls is forming a battle plan against us right now. ^“I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.” ~2 Corinthians 2:10-11 He’s continually watching for any foothold, a weak place of defense he can attack.

It takes a trained eye to spot a counterfeit. In order to train ourselves in the truth and see Satan’s schemes for what they are, we must immerse ourselves in God’s Word. That is our truth detector.

Con man, beware.