Picture this: A guy is floating downstream on a raft on a hot summer day. He’s having the time of his life, enjoying the ride as the cool water gently splashes on him. You’re on the shore and you know that there’s a deadly waterfall not far downstream. This guy is floating blissfully and ignorantly toward certain destruction! So you yell to warn him. You throw him a rope. But he rejects it and keeps floating toward certain death. Why won’t he grab the life preserver? Because he loves what he’s doing and he doesn’t want to believe your warning. In the same way, people reject God’s wonderful offer of salvation through Jesus Christ? Why? You would think that everyone would eagerly grab the life preserver that God has thrown out through the gospel (John 3:16): “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting l life.” Perish? I don't know about you but when my mother-in-law offered that same message including the word perish I was curious.
Why would anyone reject such a wonderful offer? Why would anyone want to keep heading for eternal destruction? Because people don’t want God interfering with what they consider “a good time,” and they don’t believe the warnings of Scripture that they are under God’s judgment (sin separates us from God) and will face it eternally when they die. People think that they’re basically good and because of that, God will overlook their faults and give them credit for their good deeds on judgment day. This results in the fact they don’t repent of their sins and believe Jesus Christ is the only life preserver available to save them from God’s judgment. Question. Have you ever warned a friend of danger or a precarious situation because you made that bad decision yourself and know its consequences?
1) "Don't go down Copper hill. The road is washed out at the bottom"
2) "Take lots of water with you. The seats you bought are directly in the sun"
3) "Don't walk your dog at night there has been an increase of coyote attacks after dawn"
4) "Don't book a room at the Sunshine Inn. Their rooms are filthy"
Warnings. These are examples of warnings. Would you heed them by blind faith without checking them out first? Most likely if if any of these warnings applied to you, you would probably listen, hear, act. . This is why Christians warn: God said you are lost without Jesus and need to turn back toward Him to be saved. Saved from what? The penalty of sins you've committed throughout your life and from an eternal existence (after death) void of God. It will be a living hell. Literally. No sin can dwell in heaven, so how can you enter heaven without Jesus' pardon? Granted, some believers may not have the perfect presentation or delivery but their messages and intentions are the same ... there is danger ahead unless you stop, listen, and turn back from an unmistakable, destructive ending. We've all been floating down river. Some listen and have passed from death to life and still others ignore the gospel message and blissfully float downstream.
Satan’s major success, in deceiving a nation, is due to a lack of discernment on the part of the people. People are blind to the invisible forces of supernatural evil that are operating and influencing human agents of political, social, religious and philosophical programs. Satan’s greatest victory would be to convince the world that he just doesn’t exist. However, God signifies the devil as the author of sin, sickness and death, and warns us to be alert and vigilant because the devil, as a roaring lion roams about seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter. 5:8) It is Satan’s purpose to deceive as many as he can and to keep them from obtaining a knowledge of God’s truth and salvation through His Son Jesus Christ. In the book of Revelation, chapter 20, Satan is depicted as a deceiver of nations. The Greek word for deceive is planaho, and according to Strong’s Greek Dictionary, this word means to “cause to roam from safety, truth or virtue, go astray, seduce, wander, and to be out of the way.” OR... floating blissfully down the river!
The Bible clearly tells in Ephesians 6:12, "For we (humans) wrestle not against flesh and blood (other humans), but (the real battle is...) against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
WE WRESTLE! WITH WHAT? NOT FLESH AND BLOOD-NOT HUMANS! BUT POWERS. WICKED, DEMONIC, DARK, OMINOUS POWERS.
Principalities: The concept of "principalities" is understood by the Greek word "arche" meaning chief or ruler in my concordance. These principalities/powers/rulers of darkness/ and wickedness in high places are ruling demon spirits that possess human executive authority or governmental rule in the world. This ruling power usually involves a particular nation, individual people, or race. The minds of people become their puppets through deception and then a person acts accordingly. Look around at our ruling government and tell me you can't see the uncharacteristic, diabolical behavior of the humans there. Consider the different religions, philosophies, and various belief systems that steer you away from God to the worship of self with no need of God. Do you really believe those mind sets are sanctioned by God if they teach YOU ARE God or that you can ascend to become a god? Satan is the one who wanted to exalt himself to a position of GOD ..."I will ascend above the height of the clouds, I will be like the Most High" (Isaiah 14:14). What religions can you think of that teach that same ideology where you "ascend" higher and higher by stages until you reach enlightenment?
This is the very reason the bible instructs in Romans 12:2, "“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind." It speaks nothing of ascending in stages! Only the pure, complete, absolute, unadulterated truth of God's Word can safely and permanently transform your thinking, which in turn changes bad behavior. And all the the lessons and knowledge are free, right there within the pages of God's Word. Satan's greatest attacks will always be against our minds. He can and does attack our bodies with illness and disease, but his bigger target is our mind with: depression, worry, hopelessness, sadness, mood-swings, stress, confusion, deception, etc. The greatest of these is deception and it holds you prisoner. Satan’s greatest victory would be to convince you that he just doesn’t exist. Has he succeeded to this point in your life? God warns us to be alert and vigilant because the devil, as a roaring lion roams about seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8). Do you understand the warning yet? Even in this blog? Do you realize without Jesus to forgive you of your sins you are in serious trouble? You're floating down a river enjoying your life of sins, sexual immorality, lies, idols, false religions, philosophies, and ignoring all the danger signs that you're headed for a deadly consequence. Jesus offers the life preserver you need that will renew your mind and transform you into a new creation, free of sin and guilt. If you have ignored God's offer to save you, it's never to late to come willingly. Won't you hear my voice today? As Christians we are delivered from the power of the prince of the air, and from the sinful nature that once ruled our path in life. When we received God’s Holy Spirit, at the moment of our conversion to Christ, we were translated from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God’s light, in which we now have God in Christ in us. We are continually delivered and empowered by God as we walk according to His Word and Spirit that He has given us. As we do this, we take our seat in the heavenlies with Christ.
Until He Comes,
-Pat-
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