False Promises

Matt. 4:1-11
Satan showed Him all the land as far as the eye could see and promised to give Jesus ruler ship over it all, if he would just bow down and worship him. Satan promised temporary ownership of the world in exchange for worship.

Many people have fallen into this trap. Satan shows us the world, and says you can have it all, just follow me. He promises us fame, fortune, or anything else that would appeal to us, but it all ends in death.

All of the promises he makes are empty. Sin always leads to death. I think of the verse where Paul is talking about the internal war that wages within him. It is a war that is going on inside all of us, and the only victory we have is in Jesus.

How many of us, have sought after other things, that in the end meant nothing? How many have just had to have that new device, only to discard it months or even years later, without even taking it out of the box? How many have been addicted and trapped in sin, not being able to find your way out? Not wanting to do something, but never seeming to be able to resist, at the slightest temptation when it presents itself.

The thing that maybe felt so good for so short a time in the long term never lasted. You always needed more or the next hit one was just not good enough. The never ending cycle of trying to feed the beast that was on the inside of you, but never being fully satisfied, ever! The more you get, the more you want.

Sin always leads to death!

I believe that most sin seems good at first, it always appeals to some part of us, but sin’s end is always destruction. Jesus knew this; everything that this world may have to offer is only temporary and really not that good. God is always good; he always wants what is truly best for us!

For Jesus the answer was settled, what His Father had to offer, was far better than anything anyone else could ever offer. Jesus answered, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘you shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” As Christians we have the same ability.

James 4:7 tells us, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” In verse 6 he encourages us that God, “gives grace to the humble.” Everything we need to live a victorious Christian life is provided to us by our Father.

We just need to know deep within our hearts…

• that God is a good Father
• that He has good plans for us
• that His thoughts toward us are always good

Because of all that we submit to the One, Who first loved us, and then tell the devil to take a hike, in the name of Jesus, our Savior. I know this seems easy to say and write, but not always easy to do. That is why I am so very grateful that God gives grace to the humble.

Until next time,

May, "The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace."