HTML clipboard “He (the evil one) was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44 NIV)
“I (Jesus) am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6-7 NIV)
“The thief (the evil one) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10 NIV)
We were totally oblivious to what was going on in the skies as we enjoyed the Christmas festivities in Queenstown, but unbeknownst to us, a passenger on Northwest Airlines Flight 253 tried to set off plastic explosives that had been sewn into his underwear! (Who in their mind would like plastic in their underwear! Yuck!!!)
We heard about the attempted attack a few days later, but we didn’t think anything of it. It wasn’t until it was time to confirm our return flight that we realized what kind of havoc this man had created to the travel industry!
When I called to confirm our flight home for January 2, the airline agent brought me grim news: I could only take one carry-on item, and this filled with only my most dire necessities. I was told in no uncertain terms that I could bring neither my camera nor my medical equipment on the plane. His reasoning was quite convincing: “Life is more important than cameras and medical equipment!”
To me, the news seemed like I had just been hit by a semi-truck! My medical and photography equipment would not stand up to the jostling it would take in my suitcases, and once back home, both would have to be replaced. This trip would end up being a lot more expensive than expected!
I prayed for guidance, and I was immediately convicted to check the website for Homeland Security. Here I discovered that it was true I could only bring one carry-on with me with only the bare necessities, however it was also recommended that cameras and medical equipment be brought as carry-ons as well! I had been ill-advised by an agent who had made his OWN interpretation of the law!
The same is true with our fight with sin. We are being lied to! And what is even worse is that we believe these lies, especially the ones we’ve been drawn into in the past! All of our unhealthy obsessions and addictions will dominate us for the rest of our lives if we don’t see them for what they truly are: lies!
We face a choice each time we are tempted: to either give in or resist. “For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.” (Rom 7:22-23 NIV)
But do we notice how enticing these temptations are? Do we perceive how they make us trembling to the core of our being as if we cannot live without them and there is no way we will be able to resist them?
It’s all a lie, because they originate from the father of lies, the evil one himself (See the quote from above John 8:44).
“Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Rom 7:24-25 NIV)
Just like those who condemned Jesus to the cross, we are being deceived! “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34 NIV) What we are not aware of is that this battle is not about whether we give in or not, but about who we believe! This battle is a battle of faith! Do we give in, believing the evil one?
But if what he entices us with is true, why do we feel so miserable after giving in? Were we really created to feel miserable?
But how can we survive without giving in?
That my friend, we will never know until we resist the evil one and start believing the One “who will rescue me from this body of death.” After that first victory, we will realize that it was all a deception, a lie direct from hell. We can live without this obsession. We can live without this constant defeat!
It’s time we take our stand and put our money where our mouth is. Either we believe in Jesus as the truth (John 14:6), or we believe in our hauntingly dire circumstances! It’s all a question of faith! Who do we put our faith in?
“We live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Cor 5:7 NIV)
“The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal 2:20-21 NIV)
“The righteous will live by faith.” (Gal 3:11 NIV)
But once we experience sweet victory, let’s not think that the evil one will leave us alone (See Luke 4:13: “He (the evil one) left him (Jesus) until an opportune time.” NIV) Instead of focusing on the problem, we need to start focusing on the solution: Jesus the Christ, as He is the One “who will rescue me from this body of death”.
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” (Heb 12:2-4 NIV)
It’s all a question of faith! Victory is obtained only by faith! Who do we really believe in?
P. S. My camera, its lenses and my medical equipment, all arrived safely home. Why? Because I decided to put my faith not in the airline agent, but in the instructions given by Homeland Security.
We can check Heaven’s Homeland Security guidelines as well. They are all clearly indicated in God’s Word, the Bible. After all, weren’t we created with eternity in mind?
Have a nice flight, and I’ll meet you all beside the Tree of Life!
Rob Chaffart
(To access the entire “Fearless Victory!” devotional series, please click here.)