Some of us never take advice from others. It seems we have to experience things in order to learn from the mistakes. That might be fine in some areas of life but not when it comes to spiritual concerns.
The devil and sin are truly the worst enemies we can face. Just a brief encounter with them can capture us and never let us go. The pleasures of sin are fleeting but their consequences are eternal. Isaiah taught that, “sin separates us from God” (Isaiah 59:1). That was demonstrated for us with Adam and Eve. How many sins did they have to commit to lose their fellowship with God and the joys of Eden? Just one!
Peter tells us that Satan is a hungry lion hunting those who can devour (1 Peter 5:8) He wants to kill and destroy (John 10:10). He will steal your soul and ravage everything about your life, in the end he will take you to hell for an eternity (Luke 16).
God on the other hand sent Jesus to “give us life to the fullest” (John 10:10). He wants to set us free from the bonds of sin and death (Romans 8:2), gifting us with joy and blessings beyond our imagination (Ephesians 1:3). Heaven will be worth every sacrifice we make to avoid living a sinful life.
Please don’t give even one opportunity to the devil to take control of you. Instead give your life to God through obedience to Him.
There is some good advice in this old gospel song.
“Sin will take you farther than you want to go,
Slowly, but wholly, taking control,
Sin will leave you longer than you want to stay,
Sin will cost you far more than you want to pay”
Let’s follow the Lord and stay far from the devil.
Joseph D. Chase
North Loop Church of Christ
Worship Thoughts 