Out of tragedy ∙∙

Out of tragedy ∙∙

Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. – Romans 4:20

1 Samuel 30:1-6

 1 David and his men arrived home at their town of Ziklag, they found that the Amalekites had made a raid into the Negev and Ziklag; they had crushed Ziklag and burned it to the ground.

 2 They had carried off the women and children and everyone else but without killing anyone.

 3 When David and his men saw the ruins and realized what had happened to their families,

 4 they wept until they could weep no more.

 6 David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the LORD his God.

Our world is often filled with sorrow and disappointment. Sometimes, these hardships feel distant, affecting those we don’t personally know. However, at other times, they are very close and personal. Over the past few years, our world and nation have been battered by natural disasters like floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes. Recently, planet Earth has been stricken with global riots and a deadly, devastating global pandemic. The damage and loss of life are horrendous.

“If you want God’s best in your life and you want to make your life count, then you can expect to travel the road of adversity. It’s always there. And it’s amazing how somehow God uses adversities in our life to shape us, to make us fit, and to equip us to do the things that He desires to do in us and through us in life. And when you think about what adversity is, adversity is those ‘dark moments’ in our life” (Stanley).

The Father uses these challenging times and periods of darkness to grow and mature. Outer turbulence and its consequent inner turmoil are the raw materials from which strength of character and inner resolve are birthed and developed: from crisis comes courage, from tragedy, trust, from failure, faith, and from loss of leadership.

The dark moments are those times that may last for days, weeks, months, even years when “We feel depressed, anxious, fearful, thoughtless, sinful, you name it. All those things a person goes through” (Stanley).

These “dark moments” are inevitable. We cannot run, and we cannot hide. The question we must continually answer for ourselves is, how will we respond to them? It is so easy to become discouraged because of our difficulties and hardships. The road to anger, bitterness, and depression is short. But there is another path.

1 Samuel 30:6 David drew strength from the LORD his God.

Instead of wallowing in despair, David turns to the Father. He sought solace in the Father through prayer and worship. This character quality marked David’s entire life and made him a man of faith and a great leader. The Father honed David’s leadership skills and groomed him for the throne. David abandoned his own poor, faulty, and limited perspective. He had mastered the art of viewing things from the Father’s perspective. Even amid the “dark moments” that the Father introduced into his life, David had learned to see the end.

REFLECT & PRAY

Isaiah 46:9-10

 9 Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me.

 10 Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.

Father help me exchange my paltry and insufficient perspective for Yours. You see the end from the beginning and are always at work to accomplish Your will on Earth as it is in heaven.

INSIGHT

In this world, adversity, hardship, trouble, and times of darkness are unavoidable.

Job 5:7 For man is born for trouble, as sparks fly upward.

While many people allow adversity to morph into insurmountable challenges and setbacks, remarkably, others stand firm with confidence in the faithfulness of the Father. The latter has an overwhelming sense of stability and immovable strength. They weather the storm, head held high, confident, bold, not repressing anything. They feel certain their Father will see them through the heartache and bring them out whole, joyful, and more mature on the other side (Stanley).

Where is the Father when we are in the midst of adversity? Can we trust Him when He says He will never leave us or forsake us?

The Father is always with us in our adversity. Adversity is the barometer He uses to reveal to us our current level of faith and trust. However, He doesn’t leave us in these challenging times. As we learn to respond appropriately and withstand the “dark moments,” the Father cultivates our faith and trust.

The pivotal question for each of us is, do we genuinely want to worship the Father and bring glory and honor to Him? Our adversities mold our godly spiritual character. Adversity shouldn’t be seen as a sign of failure but rather as proof of an ongoing transformation. We are “a work in progress.” To be fully prepared for service, the children of the King must experience and endure heartache, disappointment, and pain. He uses these “dark times” to shape and refine us.

The Father has a specific plan for each child of the King as He shapes us and conforms us into the image of Lord Jesus Christ. He permits adversity only for as long as it serves its purpose. Once its role is fulfilled, He removes it (Stanley).

Hardship and sorrow are like a gas-powered lawnmower. Eventually, the lawnmower runs out of gas and ceases to run.

“The dark moments of our life last only as long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose. So, there is a limitation on them. There is a purpose for them. There’s a very specific purpose. They last only as long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose” (Stanley).

This often leaves us pondering numerous questions. “What is my purpose?” “What is His plan for my life?” Do not be surprised if the Father does not tell you. What He wants from you is your trust.

Remember, He alone is God, and there is none like him. Everything He plans will come to pass, for He can do whatever He wishes (Isaiah 46:9-10).

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© Dr. H 2024

Living with danger ∙

Living with danger ∙

Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world? – Matthew 24:3

Ezekiel 33:4-7

 4 If those who hear the warning refuse to take action, it is their own fault if they die.

 5 They heard the warning but ignored it, so the responsibility is theirs. If they had listened to the warning, they could have saved their lives.

 6 But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn’t sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for their captivity. They will die in their sins, but I will hold the watchman responsible for their deaths.

 7 Now, son of man, I am making you a watchman for the people of Israel. Therefore, listen to what I say and warn them for me.

Stromboli, an island off the coast of Sicily, is home to a small full-time population of around 500 residents. What sets this island apart is its active volcano, Mount Stromboli, which continuously rumbles and exhibits near-continuous summit explosions. By day, smoke billows from its peak, while at night, diamantine specks glisten in the darkness, occasionally accompanied by soaring lava that illuminates the sky and the land. This remarkable natural phenomenon has earned Mount Stromboli the nickname “Lighthouse of the Mediterranean.” The superheated lava flows harmlessly into the sea through a slope known as Sciara del Fouco, or the Stream of Fire.

Despite the constant rumblings and activity of the volcano, the local population has adapted to its presence, likening it to living near railroad tracks or an airport, albeit with significantly more inherent danger. However, amidst occasional moments of trepidation, it is described as a remarkably serene place to reside. Photographer and videographer Gaia Squarci noted that the island provides “a calm, with a tension underneath.”

Volcanologists view Mount Stromboli as a “living” natural laboratory, utilizing it to observe and document precursory signs of impending eruptions. They aim to accurately predict and forecast destructive eruptions, providing crucial warnings to those in harm’s way. The volcano has various detection instruments to identify significant changes that may indicate upcoming events, as volcanoes typically undergo inflation before erupting. In 2019, an early warning system was created to mitigate risks. But there is still a high degree of unpredictability.

Many well-grounded in biblical teaching are keenly aware of end time prophecies. A catastrophic destruction of planet Earth has been foretold. They are watching for signs indicating the approach of these coming events. This was a major concern for the apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ. They knew He was the Messiah, the King of Israel. Eager to understand, when He entered Jerusalem for the last time before His looming Crucifixion, they asked Him when the Kingdom would begin and what the sign of His return and the end of the age would be.

They asked Him, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?” (Matthew 24:3) They wanted to know and understand the timeline and signs of the end times, a quest that continues among many children of the King today.

REFLECT & PRAY

We would be prudent to learn from the Stromboli volcano volcanologists, be mindful of the predictions, and take effective measures when required.

Father You know the end from the beginning. You have provided prophecies of the future, which is already history to You. May we be faithful watchers who heed the signs and provide warnings.

INSIGHT

A vigilant observer must take action based on their observations. It is incumbent upon individuals to recognize warnings and respond accordingly. Our society is filled with observers: meteorologists who predict weather patterns, astrophysicists studying the cosmos, economists analyzing financial trends, public health officials monitoring disease outbreaks, and political analysts assessing public opinion.

How do the Father’s watchers become aware? It’s a blend of due diligence, dedicated research, and open-mindedness. The word of God contains prophetic warnings of the end times. Their hearts’ eyes should be open and enlightened to discern the Father at work. They should be responsive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and prompting. They must be sensitive and hear the Father’s voice.

Jesus Christ made both broad and specific predictions. It was as if He had set out biblically grounded detection tools to monitor last day trends. This was especially true for those serving as watchers.

Broad Predictions – The first half of the 70th week of Daniel

Matthew 24:4-12

 4 Jesus told them, Don’t let anyone mislead you,

 5 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many.

 6 And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately.

 7 Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.

 8 But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.

 9 Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers.

 10 Many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other.

 11 And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people.

 12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.

Specific Predictions – The second half of the 70th week of Daniel

Matthew 24:14-30

 14 And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world so that all nations will hear it, and then the end will come.

 15 “The day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about – the abomination of desolation [the Antichrist] that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place.”

 27 For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes.

 30 And then, at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the Earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

When does He come? “Despite many attempts over the centuries to pinpoint the time of Jesus’ return, God’s Word stands: He will come at ‘an hour you do not expect.’ We are to remain in a perpetual state of readiness” (Stanley).

Matthew 24:44 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.

Ezekiel 33:6-7

 6 If the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn’t sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for their captivity. They will die in their sins, but I will hold the watchman responsible for their deaths.

 7 Now, son of man, I am making you a watchman for the people of Israel. Therefore, listen to what I say and warn them for me.

In the Old Testament, the prophets were the Father’s servants and appointed watchers. They were responsible for seeing, hearing, and sounding the alarm.

Each child of the King has a similar responsibility. We are the children of the light. We are not to be fooled by the darkness and deception of our fallen world.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

 1 Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you.

 2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.

 3 When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.

 4 But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief.

 5 For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.

 6 So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.

 9 For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.

 10 Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.

 11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

We are to keep watching and praying as the time draws ever closer for the triumphal Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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© Dr. H 2024

White-belt Christians

White-belt Christians

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son. – Romans 8:29

1 Corinthians 2:14-3:3

 14 But a natural man [soulish (unbeliever)] does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

 15 Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others.

 1 Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you, I could not talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you were of the flesh [belonged to this world] or as though you were babies in Christ.

 2 I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you were not ready for anything stronger. And you still are not ready,

 3 for you are still fleshly [controlled by your sinful nature] . . .. Aren’t you living like people of the world [unbelievers]?

How Do I Get a White Belt?

If you see someone wearing a white belt around their waist, the odds are that they are at the very beginning of their martial arts journey. To get a white belt, you simply have to show up. Most schools will not require you to do anything out of the ordinary before receiving your white belt. No prior knowledge of the sport is necessary before you receive your karate white belt.

Karate is a martial art with an ancient and rich history. Karate practitioners have been studying the art for hundreds of years. At the beginning of the 20th century, the belt system of tracking progress was initiated. Modern Karate belt styles use the kyu/dan system borrowed from Judo. The “Black Belt” was designed to show competence in the art. The most common belt colors used in Karate are respectively white, yellow, orange, green, blue, brown, and black.

Students begin their journey with a white belt. White belt students do not know how to control their minds or properly make karate moves. Progressing and moving on to other belts requires commitment and determination to learn and develop a Karate lifestyle.

Here’s a suggested progression time for each Karate belt. This is the minimum progression time. The goal is to gain knowledge and skills, not obtain the next belt.

Level            Minimum Time between ranks

White Belt     3 months of active training as a white belt

Yellow Belt    6 months of active training as a yellow belt

Orange Belt  6 months of active training as an orange belt

Green Belt    9 months of active training as a green belt

Blue Belt       12 months of active training as a blue belt

Brown Belt    18 months of active training as a brown belt

Black Belt     is divided into 10 levels of expertise and mastery.

The system is not based on the years of study but on the mastery of the discipline.

In many ways, 21st-century Christianity is much like Karate. It is an age-old faith with 2000 years of Christian tradition and practice, preceded by 2000 years of Jewish tradition and practice. To participate, you just have to show up. No discipline, commitment, or training is required. All folks that go to church are issued a white belt. They can be repurposed, as people church hop. Most show little inclination to master the art of growing in their relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and becoming disciples. They are content to be white-belt Christians.

Christianity and Karate have one common similarity. The goal of each is to become like your master.

In Karate, the goal is to become like the one who taught you.

In Christianity, we are to become like the one who bought you.

Romans 8:29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son.

REFLECT & PRAY

“Without God, we cannot; without us, God will not” (St. Augustine).

Father, encourage me to seek to become Your disciple at any cost, that I may know You and the power of the resurrection and the fellowship of the sufferings of Christ.

INSIGHT

Often, a Greek term contains subtle nuances that provide a deeper understanding of what Paul is saying in our English translations. To help to understand better, it is beneficial to know and comprehend these finer points.

In this section, two different Greek suffixes are placed on the ends of four significant words. The first is ikos, which means characterized by. It connotes how someone or something acts or appears to be. The second is inos, which means made of. That is, what something actually is.

The Greek word translated as natural man [unbeliever] is psuchikos. Psuchikos has the sense ofbeing characterized by merely soulish reasoning. This Greek term is also translated as natural, sensual, or soulish.

The Greek word that Paul uses for spiritual is pneumatikos. Pneumatikos means to be characterized by the spirit, that is, a spiritual person.

The Greek word translated as flesh [belonged to this world] is sarkinos. Sarkinosmeans to be made of the flesh, in this context, a baby or infant. Paul has a nuanced view of the human condition. He refers to new believers as merely human, focusing on their weakness, sinfulness, or transgression.

The Greek word translated as fleshly [controlled by your sinful nature] is sarkikos. Sarkikosmeans to be characterized by the flesh. “Although the Corinthians are Christians indwelt by the Spirit, their divisive behavior shows that they act like the unbelieving world around them” (ESV Study Bible).

Paul recognizes four categories of people: soulish people (unbelievers), baby Christians (new children of the King), carnal or fleshly Christians (children of the King who have had time to grow up but still act like babies), and the spiritually mature (children of the King who are growing to spiritual maturity in Christ).

All white belt children of the King begin as baby Christians. As time passes, if they do not progress, they are no longer babies; instead, they act like babies and are carnal or fleshly.

What belt do you have? Perhaps more importantly, what belt do you aspire to have?

The road to spiritual maturity is not easy but challenging. It may cost you everything you value. It takes determination and commitment. Every child of the King can become a disciple or remain a white-belt Christian. The choice is yours!

Choose wisely!

Luke 14:28 But don’t begin until you count the cost.

“Jesus promised his disciples three things – that they would be completely fearless, absurdly happy, and in constant trouble” (William Barclay).

The disciples were always in trouble, as their commitment to spreading the teachings of Jesus often put them at odds with societal norms and authorities. They faced backlash from religious leaders who felt threatened by their message, and from Roman officials who saw them as a disruptive force. Yet, despite these constant challenges, they remained steadfast in their mission, demonstrating the power of faith and resilience. Their troubles did not deter them; instead, they served to strengthen their resolve and deepen their belief in the transformative power of Christ’s teachings.

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© Dr. H 2024

Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft ∙

Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft∙

Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness is as bad as worshiping idols. – 1 Samuel 15:23

Psalms 78:7-8

 7 So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands.

 8 Then they will not be like their ancestors – stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God.

Jeremiah 7:24-26

 24 But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward.

 25 From the day your ancestors left Egypt until now, I have continued to send my servants, the prophets – all day in and day out.

 26 But my people have not listened to me or even tried to hear. They have been stubborn and sinful – even worse than their ancestors.

“Those who never retract their opinions love themselves more than they love truth” (Joseph Joubert).

“I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday” (Abraham Lincoln).

“To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason, and whose philosophy consists in holding humanity in contempt, is like administering medicine to the dead, or endeavoring to convert an atheist by scripture” (Thomas Paine).

“Pettiness of mind, ignorance and presumption are the cause of stubbornness, because stubborn people only want to believe what they themselves can imagine, and they can imagine very few things” (Madeleine de Souvre).

Stubbornness carries two diametrically opposed connotations: on one side, it signifies arrogance or defiance, and on the other, it represents determination or perseverance. The Father abhors stubbornness when it manifests as arrogance or defiance. The Scriptures are filled with His strong condemnations of such rebellious stubbornness.

1 Samuel 15:23 Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness is as bad as worshiping idols.

The Hebrew word translated as stubborn is patsar. Patsar has the sense of being unmanageable. The verb means to push, urge, be insolent, pushy, arrogant, or presumptuous. In modern English, an expression that captures the sense of this word is “push back.”

“Our heavenly Father places a high value on obedience, preferring it even to outward expressions of worship. In fact, our obedience is the ultimate expression of worship and service” (Stanley). “The Torah integrated sacrifice into the life of obedience to God; however, it never envisioned it as a substitute for obedience” (Bergen).

1 Samuel 15:22 Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offerings.

Why are obedience and submission held in high esteem, while rebelliousness and stubbornness are strongly criticized and denounced? “To know God’s will and deliberately disobey it is to put ourselves above God and therefore become our own god. This is the vilest form of idolatry” (Wiersbe).

REFLECT & PRAY

“God blesses obedience, not stubbornness” (Stanley).

Father search out every rebellious, stubborn stronghold within my heart and empower me to bring them captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ.

INSIGHT

The story of King Saul provides insight into a haughty, independent, self-reliant, and stubborn soul. For Saul, partial obedience was equivalent to complete obedience. He replaced the Father’s plan with his own. His understanding was entirely misguided. He had it all wrong. If we aim to obey and serve the Father, it must be on His terms, not ours. The Father is the unspoken recipient of our defiance and obstinacy, the object of our rebellion and stubbornness. When we stubbornly dismiss the Father’s clear guidance, we are, in essence, rejecting His sovereignty and guidance. Ultimately, we are rejecting Him.

“What is the difference between obedience and sacrifice? Sacrifice is one aspect of obedience, but obedience involves more than just sacrifice. We should never think that we can compensate for our lack of obedience to some of God’s will by making other sacrifices for Him.”

“Suppose one Saturday morning, a father asks his teenage son to mow the lawn for him since he has to work that Saturday and cannot do it himself. Company is coming and he wants it to look good. The son decides that his dad’s car needs washing more than the grass needs cutting. Besides, the boy plans to use the car on a date that night. When the father comes home, he finds his son has not cut the grass. ‘I decided to wash your car instead,’ the boy explains. ‘Aren’t you pleased and me?’ His father replies, ‘I appreciate your washing the car, but that is not what I asked you to do. I would have preferred that you mow the lawn as I told you’” (Constable).

Is it possible to overcome stubbornness? If so, how? It requires a massive perspective transformation.

Romans 2:4-6

 4 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

 5 But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

 6 He will judge everyone according to what they have done.

Owing to the Father’s exceptional compassion, forbearance, and patience, we ought to renounce the sin of stubbornness. This involves making a conscious choice to nurture a resilient, adaptable, flexible, and submissive spirit. Any child of the King can do this. It’s a matter of learning and practicing the inspired word of God.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

The Father stands ready to enable each child of the King to cease doing what is wrong and equip us to do what the Father desires.

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© Dr. H 2024

The big lie ∙∙

The big lie ∙∙

For this reason, God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie. – 2 Thessalonians 2:11

2 Thessalonians 2:1-11

 1 Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him.

 2 Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us.

 3 Don’t be fooled by what they say. That day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed – the one who brings destruction.

 4 He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.

 7 For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way.

 8 Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming.

 9 This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles.

 10 He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them.

 11 So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies.

The concept of a “Big Lie” is a technique often associated with propaganda. Adolf Hitler, in his 1925 book Mein Kampf, first coined this term to describe a falsehood, a lie so “colossal” that no one would believe that someone “could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously” (Adolf Hitler).

If a lie is repeated often enough and with enough conviction, people will eventually accept it as truth. “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it” (Adolf Hitler).

This concept was further developed by Joseph Goebbels, who served as the Reich Minister of Propaganda for Nazi Germany. Goebbels pioneered the use of Fake News to sway public opinion to accept the lies of National Socialism, the political doctrine of the Nazi party.

Interestingly, the concept of a “big lie” can also be traced back to the beginning of human history. The original “big lie,” according to the Book of Genesis, plunged the human race into sin and brought about the Fall.

Genesis 3:1-6

 1 The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made. One day, he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”

 2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied.

 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”

 4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman.

 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”

 6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful, and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.

The devil was present in the Garden of Eden and took control of the serpent to carry out his evil intentions and tempt Eve (Ezekiel 28:13). Eve was truly innocent and unaware. The enemy took advantage of her and exploited her purity and innocence. He leveraged them and told her a big lie regarding the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He raised doubts and incited skepticism about the truthfulness of what the Father had said and His intentions. She ceased believing the truth and instead believed the enemy’s lies.

Two things happened simultaneously. She rejected the Father’s Truth. She embraced a false narrative spun by the devil. This is the pattern that has continued down to this day. As a result, the human race was plunged into sin.

REFLECT & PRAY

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.

Father enable me to embrace the truth and become less and less susceptible to lies, deception, and delusion. Give me wisdom and discernment.

INSIGHT

The end of the age will be characterized by a pervasive spirit of rebellion and defiance against the Truth and those who embrace it. Many lies will be disseminated, and people will choose to believe them. This comes to a culmination when the vast majority of the deluded human race, the children of darkness, embrace “the Lie,” as stated in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-11.

The Scriptures are quite clear that people are under the influence of evil spiritual forces. They have been present and manipulating people since the beginning. The apostle John provides a simple test to know whether a spirit is from the Father or not.

1 John 4:3 Every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.

We are encouraged to test the spirits we come into contact with to determine whether they are from the dark side or from the kingdom of light.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

The influx of false teachers, false prophets, and false messengers is one of the signs that we are at the end of the age (Matthew 24:3-26).

1 John 2:18 Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this, we know that the last hour has come.

Lies of all sorts are being widely disseminated. People choose to believe the lies rather than the truth because they are not children of the light. There is a shocking, if not terrifying, cause-and-effect relationship between choosing deception and becoming deceived. When people reject the truth, they become more susceptible to lies. When people embrace the truth, they become less vulnerable to lies. Regrettably, the Father not only allows the dissemination of false information, as a form of judgment, but He sends a deluding influence as well. They sow the wind, and so they will reap the whirlwind (Hosea 8:7)!

2 Thessalonians 2:11 Consequently, God sends on them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false.

“Paul pictures a growing rebellion against God, the emergence of one who was the devil incarnate as Christ had been God incarnate, a final struggle and the ultimate triumph of God” (Barclay).

As rebellion and deception increase, so does delusion. People think they are doing what is right when they are entirely incorrect.

“‘Delusion’ is stronger than deception. Deception means that a person can be fooled about something. Delusion is a way of life in which one is perpetually deceived. People under delusion harden their hearts permanently” (Richardson).

1 Thessalonians 5:3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.

All of humanity is entrapped by delusion and spiritual death. Each child of the King has been snatched out of the kingdom of darkness and brought into the kingdom of light. Now, we are to walk in the light.

Ephesians 2:1-5

 1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.

 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil– the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.

 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature, we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

 4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,

 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 11-26-1

© Dr. H 2024