Luring With Light

2 Corinthians 11:14-15
“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

The spider’s web is more than simply a sticky net that catches insects. Scientists have learned that the spider’s web is also a clever lure that uses ultraviolet light.

Unlike humans, most insects can see ultraviolet light. They use this ability to locate the sun when it is behind clouds as well as to locate certain flowers that offer rich ultraviolet hues. Spider silk is able to reflect ultraviolet light. This is especially true of silks used for web-making, as opposed to silks created by the spider for lining burrows or protecting eggs. The garden spider even weaves decorations into its web that increases ultraviolet reflection. In fact, webs that have extra decorations increase ultraviolet light reflection and increase the garden spider’s catch by 58 percent. Scientists also think that extra reflective decorations in the web serve as a warning to birds that can also see ultraviolet light and are not welcome in spider’s webs!

Just as the spider’s web is as much a lure as it is a trap, the devil too, uses lures to catch us in his traps. He lures us to them with things that will catch our attention. The knowledge of how he works is given in the Bible. God gave us His Son that He may teach us how to effectively spot, avoid and escape the devil’s traps.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, the devil is so much smarter than I am. I ask that even as You have redeemed me with Your holy, precious blood, You would help me to see the devil’s lures and traps and be warned away from them. Amen.

Notes:
I. Wickelgren. “Spider Webs: Luring Light May Be a Trap.” Science News, Vol. 135, p. 330. Photo: Spiders build their webs with great skill unless they’re under the influence of caffeine.