[TL;DR at bottom]

Greetings patriots and pedes (and even the handshakes and glowies). Good day to you all.

This started as a response to a comment that Jesus never dressed like the devil. I was going to day Jesus dressed like the devil in disguise. Because, you know, the devil tricks people or something.

As my response grew longer, I came to realize I was conducting a "Gedankenexperiment" - a thought experiment. Religious, metaphysical, philosophical? I'm not sure. I'm serious, by the way - I'm not trolling believers. I'm looking for answers. Anyway, I present it below.

Thought Experiment:

The Devil/Lucifer/Satan/Shaytan desires to fool a normal person, and present himself ss an Jesus/God/Angelic Being.

This normal person is neither particularly pious nor an unrepentant mortal sinner. Normal Joe. Goes to church. Pays his Taxes. Helps his senior citizen neighbor take out her garbage. Likes beer. Sometimes drinks a little too much. Has a bit of a bad temper. Feels guilty when he has occasional lustf thoughts about some of the attractive female coworkers, but thinks his wife is hot and awesome and is totally faithful. Etc, etc.

So, the devil appears to him in the guise of a holy being. Telling him whatever the devil tells people, asking him to do whatever the devil asks people to do. Tempting him in whatever manner the devil tempts people.

How does this person know whether the being with whom he is communing is the devil, or Jesus, or an angel, or demon, or a messenger from God, or a trickster?

What methods allows him to discern the intention of the otherworldly being?

What steps can be taken NOW to reveal their purpose? What steps can be taken before-hand, or after the fact?

How does normal guy discover the true nature of the situation?

What guarantees does normal guy have that the method and steps taken will provide correct information?

What protection does he have against being deceived and led into darkness?

(end thought experiment)

I must add that in NO way am I seeking to incite drama or contention. I am not religious myself, but I'm a seeker. There really is more to this world than meets the eye. And I'm looking for concrete, real answers. You won't get a "but science says this" from me. Yes, I trust science (not "the science") because it makes a lot of sense and explains many things. But it didn't explain everything.

It doesn't explain my coworker who's going through a hard time, and she starts singing a song that's WAY older than I am, and then later that same day, hearing that same song on a 19yo kid's playlist - at the EXACT moment I'm thinking and worrying about said coworker. Synchronicity? Coincidence? I just know there's more.

My task is to walk in darkness. I do so without complaint and for the greater good. And I'm happy to do it.

But lately I feel lost. Lie the fireflies say, when lost in the darkness, look for the light.

That's all I'm looking for folks. A little bit of light.

[TL;DR how do you tell God from the devil if devil tries to trick you?]