Beware of Satan's Nose and Foot

At the beginning of each year, I think nearly every mature adult wrestles with an uneasy spirit while examining their lifestyle, which could use some sort of improvement. There is always an area of life we are not happy with, normally, a habit we need to break or a habit we need to get started. Most habits build slowly, but we tend to want to end or start one abruptly, so we procrastinate on even getting started. Whether getting a bad habit out of, or a good habit into ones lifestyle, the battle between heart and mind – soul and body - is a lifelong war filled with many battles. Your strategy to overcome self must include a strong faith in your Creator’s love for you and know your enemy very well.

The worst enemy of man is Satan. His goals are wicked; his ways evil. In the Bible the devil is called “a roaring lion” (1 Peter 5:8), and “that ancient serpent” (Revelation 20:2). Do we know how he works? The Bible says he works by * Telling lies (John 8:44). Satan told Adam and Eve, regarding the forbidden fruit, “You will not surely die” (Genesis 3:4). An example of Satan’s lies today is, “Whoever believes will be saved.” The Lord said, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:15, 16) * Perverting the scriptures. In Matthew 4:5-7, Satan took a passage out of context, thus twisting its meaning. * Organizing his churches. Not all religious groups are approved of God. Revelation 3:9 speaks condemningly of “the synagogue of Satan.” * Thwarting God’s purposes (1 Thessalonians 2:18). * Masquerading as “an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). Good appearances can be deceiving. Religious cranks, denominationalists, cults and charlatans fool many with their errors. The ancient Arabs had a saying: “Beware the camel’s nose” which means that if we let one small undesirable situation occur, then there would soon be a worsening to a disastrous predicament. The context is that if you let a camel get his nose into the tent, the whole body would soon follow. In America, we have a similar saying in that we let someone get “a foot in the door.” In addition to many applications, these proverbs can well warn us of the danger of letting Satan into our lives. Like the bulky, smelly camel or the persistent, annoying salesman, Satan can work himself into our lives, and if we give him the opportunity, he will lead us down a slippery slope. Consider these examples from Scripture. • Eve (Genesis 3:1-6) allowed herself to doubt the word of God. From there the downhill slide was very rapid. For then she looked at the forbidden fruit, took it, ate it, and finally gave it to her husband. She allowed just the tip of the nose of doubt into her mind, and before she knew it, Satan had ruined her whole life. • The people of Israel were forbidden to take any spoils of war. But Achan (Joshua 7:1-26) was tempted. In his confession he states that he saw, coveted, took, and finally hid the treasures. Notice how Satan got his foot in the door and kept forcing his way deeper and deeper into Achan’s greedy nature. • King David (2 Sam. 11:1-27) looked at a woman bathing, lusted after her, had an affair with her, tried to hide the sin, then conspired to murder her husband. Note the slippery slope of sin and disaster that David fell into after taking a few seemingly small steps of following Satan’s temptation. Let us always be wary of Satan’s temptations and realize that we can quickly be lead astray if we give him the opportunity. Satan is a greedy creature; if we give him an inch, he will take a mile. “…do not give the devil a foothold; in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.” (Ephesians 4:27; 2 Corinthians 2:11).

Committing Anew

I don’t know about you, but I for one am so happy this year is coming to an end! I think I’ve been sick all year – down in my back several times, three surgeries on my vocal cords in twelve months, my sister’s decline in health and ultimate departure from this world due to cancer, dealing with a crazy world, getting even crazier and a political world following close behind. Physically and mentally, the year 2016 has weighed heavy on most and I’m ready to start fresh and anew; turn the page; start a new chapter. But, I have to admit I have been most highly blessed over-all. I am cancer free at the moment, I am over thirty pounds lighter and my wife’s health has greatly improved. Praise God!!

In the early 1800s, Billy Bray was known as a no-good drunken miner in the village of Twelveheads in Cornwall, England. But then he was converted to Christ and he was never the same again. He stopped drinking, became a productive member of society, and told everyone he met about his Lord. “I can’t help praising God,” he once said. “As I go along the street, I lift up one foot, and it seems to say, ‘Glory,’ and I lift up the other, and it seems to say, ‘Amen.’ If they would put me into a barrel to keep me quiet, I would shout, ‘Glory’ out of the bunghole. Praise the Lord.” Billy was often heard proclaiming these words: “He has made me glad and no one can make me sad; he makes me shout and no one can make me doubt; he makes me leap, and no one can hold down my feet.”

The world famous tenor, Luciano Pavarotti, related a story about his upbringing and success. “When I was a boy, my father, a baker, introduced me to the wonders of song. He urged me to work very hard to develop my voice. Arrigo Pola, a professional tenor in my hometown of Modena, Italy, took me as a pupil. I enrolled in a teachers college. On graduating, I asked my father, ‘Shall I be a teacher or a singer?’ ‘Luciano,’ my father replied, ‘if you try to sit on two chairs, you will fall between them. For life, you must choose one chair,’ I chose one. It took seven years of study and frustration before I made my first professional appearance. It took another seven to reach the Metropolitan Opera. And now I think whether it’s laying bricks, writing a book, or whatever we choose, we should give ourselves to it. Commitment, that’s the key. Choose one chair."

[Joshua 24:1-24] This great advice applies to many aspects of life and, most important of all, to Christianity. As Joshua taught the Israelites that it is through the power of God they have been blessed and it is God they should worship only, in the same manner Christ plainly spelled it out, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money” (Matthew 6:24 NIV). We cannot be servants of sin and of righteousness simultaneously (Romans 6:19-20), nor can we be conformed to the world and to God at the same time (Romans 12:1-2). As Joshua stated so boldly, we need to “choose whom we will serve.” We need to choose which chair we are going to sit in. We can sit in the chair of Christianity or some other chair. Hopefully we will sit in the same chair as Joshua did and echo his powerful statement, “...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). How about you? Do others see you praising the Lord no matter what the situation? Is everything you do centered around Jesus? Just consider all the Lord has done for you and let that rule your life, attitude, and words. Live your Christianity loud and proud and praise the Lord! Count your blessings - see what the Lord has done!

Vegetarians

Paul Harvey, much beloved radio personality, once quipped, “Vegetarian is an old Indian word for ‘doesn’t hunt well.”’ I’m a 21^st Century senior “vegetarian”. I don’t hunt well in this age of “too much information”. I’m self-taught in most electronics with just enough information to use them, but not to their fullest extent. I learn as I need and will continue to rely on the “rocket scientist’s” to simplify new products for me to use.

In a small eastern Kentucky town, the local police chief also served as part of the Volunteer Fire Department. His job was to answer the phone, and in the event of a fire, was to ring the fire bell to summon all the volunteer firemen in the county. One Saturday morning, the phone rang and the chief answered, “Fire department.” The terrified voice of a woman yelled, “Hurry, send the fire truck!” and immediately hung up the phone. The chief sat there stunned. “Send it where?” The phone rang again, and the chief answered, “Fire department.” Once more, in hysterical cries, the voice cried, “Hurry! Hurry!, send the fire truck,” and again hung up the phone. The chief ran out into the street and surveyed the scene for a full 360 degrees, looking for smoke. No smoke. Where was the fire? Whose house was going up in flames? Were there children who were in danger? All these things flitted through his mind. He heard the phone rang again, and on the way back to the station office, he devised a way to keep the lady on the phone long enough to find where to send the fire truck. He grabbed the phone, and yelled, “Where’s the fire?” The voice on the other end returned the yell by saying, “In the kitchen!” and promptly hung up the phone once more. Some days one can’t get enough information.

[1 Timothy 3:14 - 4:4] It is extremely difficult to know where you are going or how to get there without sufficient information. Today, so much of what is called religion is a lot like the humorous fire situation. Insufficient information leaves people insufficiently informed, and the lack of information promotes nothing but confusion. “...my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge...” (Hosea 4:6). I’m convinced that there are many Bible vegetarians today. There is no meat in their diet because they don't hunt well. They do not search or hunt through the Scriptures as they should. Only the full truth of God satisfies every situation in life. It is by “every word” that comes from God’s mouth, that our Lord says life in him is possible (John 14:5-21). So, how do we know we’re going in the right direction? We measure the growth of children with a yardstick. We measure the growth of knowledge by testing students in school. But how do you measure spiritual growth? Second Peter gives us the measuring stick. We must “add to our faith" (2 Pet. 1:5-8). Our children grow to be six feet tall, but they do it an inch at a time. Rocket scientists started out learning how to add and subtract. And mature Christians begin as “babes” who desired “the sincere milk of the word” and “grow” by it (1 Peter 2:2). Physical growth comes naturally. Mental growth requires teaching and personal study. Spiritual growth is the result of deep desire coupled with self-discipline as we add to our faith the virtues mentioned in 2 Peter. Physical growth is seen on the yardstick. Mental growth is seen in the test scores. Spiritual growth is seen in our life-style. Let me encourage you to examine your spiritual growth by a careful reading of 2 Peter 1:5-8. You might also notice the “Fruit of the Spirit” in Galatians 5:22-23. Is your spiritual growth producing any fruit? Good fruits appear only on new healthy growing branches.

Looking Back

As life goes on day by day; Let each one to his conscience say; That flesh is weak, but God is strong; That right is right and wrong is wrong. That on life’s upward path I’ll run; My face forever to the sun. That I shall do my best today; No let one moment waste away. And as I travel on life’s road; I’ll try to share a brother’s load. That force has power, but love has more; That peace is mightier than war; That real success is only won, By deeds of kindness one has done.

Every time I turn around lately I’m being reminded how far down the road I’ve traveled in this life. I know there are some who can call me a kid, still wet behind the ears, but I’ve succumb to the fact that I’m my grandfather’s age when he was old. Another mile-stone this week is being married for 31 years to “the best”, Paula. Without her I wouldn’t have examined my life and gotten back on track to who I was meant to be. It’s hard to look back on certain parts of my life because there’s a lot of guilt and wasted time nested there, yet I every once-in-a-while get a chance to teach someone how not to live and be happier in the long run. I pray I finish the race strong by not looking back.

John Michael Landy (born April 12, 1930 in Melbourne, Australia) is an Australian former Olympic track athlete. During his school years, Landy enjoyed watching middle distance track events. He became a serious runner during his college years, joining the Geelong Guild Athletic Club in 1949. He was a member of the Australian Olympic team in the ‘52 Summer Olympics in Helsinki and ‘56 Summer Olympics in Melbourne.

On  June 21,1954, at an international meet at Turku, Finland, Landy became the second man, after Roger Bannister, to achieve a sub-4-minute mile, recording a world record time of 3:57.9, ratified by the IAAF as 3:58.0 owing to the rounding rules then in effect. That record held for more than three years. Worldwide, Landy is probably best known for his part in a mile race in the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, held at Vancouver, British Columbia. Landy ran his second sub-4-minute mile in the race, but lost to Roger Bannister, who had his best-ever time. This meeting of the world's two fastest milers was called "The Miracle Mile", the "Race of the Century" and the "Dream Race"; it was heard over the radio by 100 million people and seen on television by millions more. On the final turn of the last lap, as Landy looked over his left shoulder, Bannister passed him on the right. A larger-than-life bronze sculpture of the two men at this moment was created by Vancouver sculptor Jack Harman in 1967. Regarding this sculpture, Landy quipped that "While Lot's wife was turned into a pillar of salt for looking back, I am probably the only one ever turned into bronze for looking back." (Wikipedia)

[1 Corinthians 9:24-27] Paul compares life in Christ as to running a race with a discipline of wanting to win. Jesus warned those who are full of excuses as to why they can’t follow him at this point in their life, “...No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:57-62). “By faith Moses ...regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward” (Hebrews 11:24-26). “...But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness ...make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him” (2 Peter 3:10-14). Run life’s race, not looking back, to win a crown that will last forever.

Earnest Prayer

Are you still praying for America with earnest as before the election? I read an article the other day, When Change Doesn’t Last by Kerry Duke, that says exactly what I wanted to portray this week in my article, so I thought I would share it with you.

A Confederate soldier was captured and sent to a Maryland prison in 1865. While there he decided to write about his experiences as a soldier in the Civil War. As he described “the vices of army life,” he revealed an old familiar side of human nature. Gambling was a favorite pastime of many soldiers. Some were so addicted to it that they would bet half of their food rations in a card game. Any soldier who tried to live right was ridiculed, and a soldier seen reading his Bible was mocked. A funny thing happened, though, when battle began: “When the shot and shell began to whiz by them, splintering rails and tearing off tree tops, with comrades falling around, they began to realize the great need of religion. One good battery with a good supply of grape and shell holding an elevated position could bring hard-hearted sinners to repentance. It did not require a dozen old sisters with their turkey wings begging them to repent of their sins. They were truly good then. But the great trouble was in keeping them so. If his life was spared the sacred resolution would not be long remembered. In less than a week the Bible reader would be a thing of the past, when gambling would go on as before and would not stop until the next signal for a fight was heard...” How suddenly men change their attitude when the fear of death fills their souls! Later in 1942 during World War II Army Chaplain William Thomas Cummings said, “There are no atheists in foxholes.” When men walk through the valley of the shadow of death, pride gives way to fear and stubbornness turns to humility. Sadly, that change can be an easy come, easy go experience. Many go right back to the same old selfish way of living after the storm ceases. In fact, when they have a relapse from their newfound religion, they are usually in a worse condition than before (Luke 11:24-26). They become more hardened in rebellion and less affected by the next sign of danger. Pharaoh was notorious for this fickle behavior. When the plagues threatened to destroy his empire, he appeared to humble himself. “But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart” (Exodus 7:15). His seeming change was only for a while. Strangely, many of the Israelites who left Egypt did the same thing. When God descended on Sinai with thunder, smoke, and lightning and caused the earth to shake so violently that they trembled, the Israelites seemed committed to serving God. After their feelings had subsided forty days later, they rebelled and worshipped a golden calf (Exodus 32). When the tragedy of 9-11 occurred, church attendance in many places soared. People prayed more and talked about God openly. They said, “We will never forget.” But they did. As the horror of those images faded from their minds, they went right back to their comfortable and carefree life. Like Israel of old, their goodness was like early dew that soon vanished (Hosea 6:4). Not all men in the Bible who were humbled by tragedy reverted to their carelessness after the danger had passed. Manasseh (2 Chronicles 33:11-16), Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4), and the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-24) learned their lesson. Whether we are on a battlefield, an operating table, or a dangerous highway, we all decide what we will do with the trials of life that bring us to death’s door. ...witness to God’s power in answered prayer and keep praying in earnest.