Maha Shivaratri

“How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High (Isaiah 14:12-14).” I stumbled upon a news story titled, “Devotees celebrate Maha Shivaratri.” The first thing that pops up is a picture of a man smoking a joint with the following caption: “A sadhu smokes marijuana during the Shivaratri festival at the courtyard at the Pashupatinath Hindu temple in Katmandu, Nepal. Shivaratri, or the night of Shiva, is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva, the Hindu god of death and destruction.” In short, a Hindu holy person, a sadhu, is getting high while celebrating the devil, the god of death and destruction. Sometimes we can believe that the only thing the devil wants to do in the lives of people is cause them to sin or deny Jesus Christ. While true, one thing that often goes unnoticed is that the devil wants to be like God and have people worship him as well. Scripture clearly states that when the devil fell from heaven it was because he desired to “raise his thrown above the stars of God” and “make myself like the Most High.” The devil wants to be like God. And just like the true God desires “devotees” to worship Him in spirit and truth, the devil wants “devotees” worshiping him in flesh and lies. Remember, it was Jesus Christ who stated, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10).” The devil, described here as “the thief” is said to want to steal, kill and destroy. This lines right up with the followers of Shiva worshiping a god of death and destruction. But, what is most interesting is that the festival practices are done to achieve such things as the “purification of the soul,” attaining “virtue,” experiencing “longevity and gratification of desires,” receiving “wealth,” obtaining “knowledge,” and “satisfaction with worldly pleasures.” What does scripture say about this?

“There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money … lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people (2 Timothy 3: 1-2, 4-5).” This entire festival is about people worshiping a false god of death and destruction by performing rituals designed to help them indulge their fleshly desires. If that is not of the devil, nothing is. What better way for the devil to gather “devotees” for himself then to disguise himself as a god who offers people the chance to indulge their flesh? Sadly, the influence of the devil is not only seen in Hinduism, but in other religions, including certain aspects of Christianity. We have grown all too familiar with those who will murder for the chance to be united with “72 Virgins” in a “Sensual Paradise” or false Christian teachers who teach that “godliness is a means of gain (1 Timothy 6:5).” The devil is a schemer and a deceiver who can make sin and godlessness seem holy and of God. He often does this through the guise of religion. He doesn’t always come with his so-called “horns and pitchfork” being displayed for all to see. Most often his intentions are masked as a deity who promises us the world if we just do his bidding. But, God knows better and warned us of this; “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).”  Regardless of whether a person is deemed holy by smoking marijuana while worshiping a false god of death and destruction, serves their false god of death and destruction by murdering innocent people in an attempt to get 72 virgins or believes God wants them to be healthy and wealthy, the devil is behind it all in a failed attempt to be like the Most High. Ask the Lord to give you discernment regarding the devil’s schemes and when they are revealed to you, have nothing to do with them.