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"Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you." (Proverbs 2:11)
When I was a moviegoer, I always trusted a Walt Disney movie. In 1988, the wife, kids, and I went to see “Who Framed Roger Rabbit.” After grabbing our drinks and popcorn, we watched the show. On the marque, the film was rated PG-13, which surprised me for a Walt Disney movie. The boys were eight and five, but it’s a Walt Disney, right? I was disappointed in the language, but not enough to grab the family and leave, and since I have not trusted a Disney movie without reading reviews first.
I have given up movie theaters long ago for other reasons than the movies they show, and today I am entertained watching DVDs and Streaming. Movie marques, DVD, and Streaming all have the “Viewer Discretion Advised” warnings of G, Pg13 R, and X’s at the beginning before viewing. Too bad media, magazines, newspapers, advertisements, and the world, in general, do not have the same warning, “Viewer Discretion Advised. Advised.”
I do not waste my breath with profane language, waste my efforts with bad behavior, or embarrass myself with indecent gestures. It is not something I have never had, but it is not the person I want to project myself to be. Since my relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, I have to protect my testimony, as what I do reflects upon Him. I also avoid people and places where these behaviors are committed as if I see it or hear it, my mind is defiled by it. Does that mean it draws me into sin? No, but I do not want my mind filled with the evil around me.
Despite the trials and challenges we face today in our nation, our daily lives, and the difficulty we have navigating through a confusing culture, I still praise the Lord each morning for the privilege of living in America. I find myself, at times, walking through my imagination to find rest from the stresses of American life. I picture myself back in the beginning as a resident in the Garden of Eden. Certainly, there were the challenges of God’s privilege having dominion over His creation. There was a harmony of all creation working to glorify the Creator who made all possible.
There was peace and a communion of love between people and God’s earthly paradise. As God is love, He created all in love, and His creation worked together in the example of the Creator’s love. I believe the lion and the lamb laid together, birds of the air came down and waked freely as chickens amongst all the population. And if there were children, they could have rested easy playing with the viper. I can only imagine there was no marital conflict between Adam and Eve, and they walked in the presence of the God of love and fellowshipped as a perfect community.
In the beginning, it was truly designed as Heaven, God’s Kingdom here on earth. Not all vipers were in harmony with God’s creation. A serpent came near Eve and tested her to see if she could be tempted. To see if she knew what God had said and if she truly believed His word. "The serpent said to the woman, 'You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'" (Genesis 3:4-5) Adam and Eve ate of the tree, both sinned against God’s word, and their fellowship with the Creator was broken.
Before this fracture, Adam and Eve had never even heard of or thought of dying. I don’t believe they were intended to die, as the Spirit of God gave their life. Today all humanity must die and face judgment. God is righteous, and unrighteousness must be punished, and that punishment is death, as God had warned them. Humanity knows evil, and by their fractured nature, are drawn to evil. None of humanity can face God while in bondage to sin and deserving of death. Adam and Eve chose to be like God and have gone their own way and will die physically and spiritually. “There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death." (Proverbs 14:12)
In the beginning, Satan was the most beautiful creature of God’s creation. He became so filled with himself he thought he should be the Most High God. God hates a prideful heart. "Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Assuredly, he will not be unpunished." (Proverbs 16:5) Satan’s self-pride is why he lost his place in God’s Kingdom and was cast out and down to the earth. "And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him." (Revelation 12:9) Satan is not satisfied fracturing God’s creation but also must destroy humanity because God has a plan to redeem humanity.
Satan attacked Adam and Eve because they were God’s people. Satan has no interest in evil people unless they convert, but his greatest hate is for God’s people. Satan deceived the Israelite people throughout their history, even to this day. In the Church, Age Satan attacks Christ’s Church. The Pharisees of Jesus’ day had lost their spiritual connection to the law and prided themselves on their self-righteousness. "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44)
Jesus taught the contrast between Satan’s deception and the promises given to those who follow Him in faith. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." (John 10:10) People of today have been deceived by the cartoons of Hollywood about the appearance of Satan. They think of a creature with horns and a spiked tail, a fiery person the color of red. Satan can appear before the church as a Saint if it fits his purpose. "No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." (2 Corinthians 11:14) Paul warned the Corinthian Church of Satan’s deceitfulness and to test each one by their spirit. "But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ." (2 Corinthians 11:3)
When Satan comes into the church, he will question the truth of God’s Word as he did with Eve. He may lead one to ask if God’s Word said it is more blessed to give than receive. The Words of Jesus say, "Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure--pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return." (Luke 6:38)
One may ask did Jesus say we are to forgive everyone or just ones we love. "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." (Matthew 6:14) Can we not have pride in our accomplishments? Are not our efforts to be considered ahead of those who have not produced. "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves." (Philippians 2:3). There are people I cannot like do I have to love them too? "For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Galatians 5:13--14)
Satan is always looking for the weakest point in your life, and there is where he will attack and set his stronghold. The sinful nature we have is built around an entry point. We are creatures of lust, and much of what our eyes see develops a lust to have it. Even in my old age, I still lust for the flesh. I like to see pretty girls, as they are good eye candy. I do not allow my mind to dwell on them, leading to sinful thoughts. I stay true to the beautiful lady in my life. All sin will fall into three areas. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world." (1 John 2:16)
Paul wrote to the Ephesian church, telling them to wear the armor God has given them when in battle with Satan's fiery darts. "Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil." (Ephesians 6:11) We are to put on our Belt of Truth God’s Word to combat the temptations Satan places in our minds. Our Breastplate of Righteousness covers the heart where the weapon of God’s Word is kept—having our feet Shod feet with Gospel of Peace we can share with those who come to us in need of hope. The Shield of Faith deflects the arrows of evil ways Satan entices us with. Wearing our Helmet of Salvation, know Jesus endured the cross by the joy set before Him, and we can too. When Satan comes to resist in the confidence our Lord overcame and by His words, we can too. "But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world." (1 Peter 5:8)
An old telling of the old folks is true; an idle mind is the devil’s playground. We get into the most significant trouble when we entertain Satan's temptations before us each. Do not allow them entry and chase them away with the Word of ‘God. fill your mind when it is quiet, as darkness cannot comprehend the light. "Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:23)
Be aware when you step out of your prayer closet and remember “Viewer Discretion Advised.”
Thomas N Kirkpatrick
First Baptist Church of Durant, December 7, 2021
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