Jesus said, “If you knew
when the thief was coming, you’d lock the doors!” The thief we are
talking about today is sin. So, let’s see how sin works – and take some steps toward
locking our doors to keep sin out of our lives. The Bible says: “Temptation comes from our own
desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when
sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death." The first step in sin is our own desires.
One person likes getting high on d
rugs while another man is repulsed by the thought.
Satan simply chooses bait that appeals to you. So what if we could lock Satan out by
desiring God even more!! What if right now, while you are alert and thinking… what if you
wrote down all the reasons that you desire God. Write down how and why the peace and love and
joy of Jesus is better than anything sin gives you. We call this faith – and it is believing in
a future promise. Faith is like having a baby, and believing in advance, with f
ood, warmth,
and love, how your baby will grow and flourish! Sin’s second step happens
when we deceive ourselves with permission to pursue the enticement.
For example, when tempted with pornography, many men try to convince themselves, “I’m
not hurting anyone,” or “No one will know.” The door locking prescription is to say God’s
word out loud when any temptation happens. When Jesus faced Satan’s temptations (Matthew 4)
he did so by quoting scripture out loud. What if we simply said four wo
rds of scripture –
four words you already know. Four words that Jesus said over and over again…. “Your will be
done.” Can you feel the power inside those words! Sin’s final step is death. Death. Death to
our conscience and knowing wrong from right. Death to living abundantly and death
to our relationship with God. You see, sin is not done with us even after
we’re done with sin. Sin lingers. Like stink from a skunk – it won’t go
away. What happens in Vegas doesn’t stay in Vegas – because it
comes home with our
memories. Sin lingers and leads to death. But there is good news. God is calling you
and I to flee to him. Yes, to flee. To run to him. To dwell with him, and to allow him
to dwell in you. God gives us a way out, he gives us the lock for the door, but only
helps us if we want it. We have to want to submit to Jesus and that comes naturally
when we read his Word and dwell with him. Let’s choose to run to God right now. Flee to
him long before we see temptation coming. Go
d wants to hold you in his strong arms. He wants
to shelter you. His door of safety is open and he’s calling you inside. Run to me. Rest with me.
Call on me. God is calling you, and me, right now. There is simply no more time to suffer
in anger, sadness, unforgiveness, or fear – not even for one more day! If you’re
ready to stop listening to Satan’s lies, visit BeHappyNow.org, and start living
your new life of happiness today.
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