Ephesians 2:2
“in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience.”
The evil one is at work is those who don't follow Christ. This is shocking. Many of those are good people doing good things. They are off a few degrees and are miles off of His way.
This reminds me of a movie in the 90's about a woman following a charismatic leader. When it was too late he showed his real identity as the devil. Shocking. Those who aren't in Christ are also deceived about their lost, unforgiven state. Revelation tells us that Jesus is knocking at the door of their hearts.
The problem is listed in 2 Thessalonians 2:10b,11, "because they did not accept the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false," They put off accepting Christ. We all think we've got plenty of time. When this is done our thinking gets off true north. We get deluded to believe what is false.
If we aren't in Christ we are very susceptible to the devil's and the world's influence. People are comforted that the smartest and most educated are on their side. Thus they get further away from the truth. But He has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise", (I Corinthians 1:27a).
Those outside of Christ get stumbled by the "foolish messengers" and are even further lost. This is similar to the pharisees who were stumbled by Jesus being a commoner. They were confident that Jesus wasn't the messiah, so they eagerly plotted and brought on His demise.
God's emphases and priorities are different. He has extra compassion for those in tough positions. In one of the parables He said, "Whatever you did for the least of these My brothers, you did it for me", (Matthew 25:40). Hebrews 13:2 says something similar, "Do not be forgetful of hospitality, for through this, some have entertained angels unawares." We are to scan and see those in need and do what we can. God help us for all of those we've missed.
It's not only "the sons of disobedience" who miss God's signals. Believers do as well. While we've opened the door of our hearts and invited Him in, there are rooms in our lives (hearts) which we resist opening. If we ignore these, then we become deluded and they become blind spots.
God uses His people to reach those not in Christ. We are to help all in our path. They may not be "our people", we are to still to help and share His Word. Just as some reject the lowly, we can just as easily reject the haughty.
Lord thank You for calling us and helping us respond to You. Help those in disobedience to accept You. Help us to reach all You bring in our path.