Carol J German

If only you could see what is out there, I mean, really see. You would live very differently. I would live very differently too. You and I would stand arm-in-arm and walk together in unity for we are amidst evil.

Jesus knew what He was up against when He came to earth to dwell among evil. What makes Jesus different from you and me is the power behind His name. He came already knowing what is out there. He came already with The Plan to take down evil. And there was only One Way for that to happen, Jesus came to die. Why? Sinful man needed an escape route and Jesus was willing to come and be The Sacrifice needed to take down evil.

Well, Satan did not like that, and he still doesn’t. Jesus resurrecting from the dead meant that Satan and his followers are heading to their demise. A day is approaching where Jesus will be returning to judge the earth for its sins. Read Genesis 3 to see how Satan is the cause for man’s troubles. God’s Judgment Day will come when Jesus returns where Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire; see Revelations 20:10.

So, what does Satan do in the meantime before his demise? He is out in full force to keep anyone from finding the escape route that God established through Jesus Christ. How does he do it? He uses deadly tactics. One such tactic is the easiest for him to use. It’s called distraction.

As long as Satan can distract and keep people from walking with Jesus and following the Holy Spirit, God’s Great Commission can never be complete. He is buying time before he comes to his end. (It is good to remember that Satan cannot thwart God’s plan. Jesus’ return will happen when God says it will. Satan does not have the power or authority to dictate anything. His pride keeps him thinking he has a say and he is unyielding to the authority of God.)

Read Matthew 28:18-20 to read what the Great Commission is. When every person who has been called by God has been saved, Jesus will return. Satan does not want this to happen, so he does whatever is necessary to keep people from following Jesus.

Unfortunately, Satan is quite successful. Our flesh is weak. We love we want to love. Loving Jesus is counterintuitive to our sinful nature. Every person must choose Jesus to be saved. Every person must believe God. Every person must repent of their sins and receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Every person must listen and obey the Holy Spirit. Then, and only then, will you be led to the escape route and become a child of God. Read Matthew 7:13-14 to learn how human nature makes Satan’s job easy.

Think of what distraction is. The definition from Oxford Dictionaries, “A thing that prevents someone from giving full attention to something else.” Another definition, “An extreme agitation of the mind or emotions.” Can you see how Satan uses these tactics to keep you from believing and following wholeheartedly? How is he keeping you from walking in the Lord? What distracts you?

Know that there is a war taking place all around you, both in the spiritual world and the physical world. Be awake and alert to this fact and fight for your faith! You must stay the course. There is only one road that leads to heaven, and it is found only in Christ, your escape route. Arm yourself with God’s Word and the Holy Spirit and He will lead you safely home.