Don’t Get Caught in the Devil’s Web of Deceit

“There hath no temptation taken you but such is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer (allow) you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”  I Corinthians 10:13

Most of us who are 50 years of age or older remember the old “Laugh In” show that was popular on television.  One of the regulars on the show was Flip Wilson who would dress up like a woman with the name of Geraldine and get into all sorts of trouble.  Geraldine’s excuse was “the devil made me do it.”  We all laughed because Mr. Wilson was funny and played the part well.  However, just because we hear something on television, funny or not, doesn’t make it the truth.  The devil, that old deceiver named Satan, can’t make anyone do something that he or she shouldn’t do.  He doesn’t have that kind of power.

Temptations come to everyone, but we don’t have to give in to those temptations.  There is no excuse for giving into a temptation which would lead one into sin.  All sin begins in the mind with a thought.  The thought can then develop into an idea, an idea into a plan, and a plan into an action.  At some point in this progression, the believer gets a warning from the Holy Spirit.  For those who walk in close fellowship with the Lord, the warning comes immediately as the thought forms in the mind.  Some folks like to use the analogy of a little “red flag” that immediately shoots up in a person’s spirit to let them know that danger lies ahead.  To the discerning, the way of escape comes in the form of quickly dismissing that thought and thinking on something else which is true, lovely, and of good report (Philippians 4:8).  As the old saying goes, “You can’t stop a bird from flying over your head, but you can keep it from building a nest in your hair!”  We can’t help the thoughts that come into our mind, but we can learn to not dwell on them.

If the tempting thought manages to make it to the idea stage or further, God still sends ways of escape, but it is up to us to take advantage of them.  To ignore them puts us in danger of hardening our hearts and turning a deaf ear to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.  There is nothing more miserable for a Christian than to break fellowship with the One who loves us more than anyone.  We’ve all seen on television or in movies a character caught in a dilemma who, on one shoulder, has a miniature red clad image with a pointed tail, horns, and holding a pitchfork, while on the other shoulder is a angel or heavenly being dressed in all white.  The one dressed like a devil is tempting the character to go ahead and do whatever he likes, while the angel is urging him to not give in to temptation.  The character has a choice to make.  The thing is, the devil, as a deceiver, is sometimes hard to recognize.  He is great at disguises so don’t let him trick you.  When temptation comes, look for God’s way of escape for He will surely provide one.