Saturday, February 15, 2020

That which is behind the Curtain

If any of you remember the book or the movie of 'The Wizard of Oz', there's a very interesting moment in it where one of the characters cries out "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!".

The visual given is of one thing the audience sees and yet a completely different view of who was behind the curtains.  

Scripture says that we are to be on our guard because the Devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. 

It's unfortunate that many believers crouch in fear of this so-called lion.  In Christ the Devil, or Satan as his real name is, is powerless.  He was defeated at the cross of Christ.  Yet people live as though he has powers and abilities that are beyond what Christ's resurrection power was able to do. 

In the movie and book, as Scripture does too concerning Satan, in the end he is found out.  The truth is revealed.  The light of truth is the Scriptures.  In everything we shine that light upon we reveal all unrighteousness. Scripture says that. 

We see horrific things tempting us.  Look behind the curtain.  The power of God confronts and defeats all the schemes of the Devil.  

Satan spent days and days trying to twist Scripture to make it say what he wanted in order to test Jesus in the wilderness.  Each and every time Jesus properly used Scripture to refute him. Through the years of His earthly ministry, Jesus was having the Law tossed at Him by the Pharisees and Sadducees the leaders of the people, Jesus brought them back to what the Scriptures really said. After all He wrote them. 

You will indeed see both within the sin nature within you and in others, sin. You will be seduced, if possible, to sin. Until we are with Christ, it's going to happen.  We will be like Peter that after we have been restored we will strengthen our brothers. 

It's going to happen to each of us. 

Yes we all go through it. 

Scripture says "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12

We are going to face trials and tribulations and temptations.  Satan knows the power within us is capable of resisting him. If we know what is going on and how to use it.

Being in the Word rather than the World is his first fear.
Being in Prayer with Jesus rather than in Worry within Ourselves, is his second fear. 
Having Spiritual eyes to see the truth rather than blindly accepting is his third fear. 
Taking Christ at His Word rather than trusting in the words of man is his greatest fear. 

We can easily be the one who is self deceived.  We can fool ourselves into believing that what we see in the person on the stage as the Oz like in the book and movie is real when in fact they are powerless. 

We do more harm to ourselves in not realizing the truth as Jesus shows us than anyone else.  We may be reminded of past sins, if we have confessed those, Scripture is what we tell them when reminded of them. That Jesus is faithful and just, He has forgiven us and casts them as far as the east is from the west.  Remembering them no more.  

Satan loves to dredge up the past.  When we solidly hold to the truth of God's Word he has no power.  Nothing.  Just like we read of him tempting Christ.  Powerless. 

Remind him of who you are in Christ. 
We are adopted, sons and daughters of God.  We are the redeemed. We are as white as snow before our Father in Heaven because He sees Jesus when He sees us.

Look anew at your life.  Look at it from Christ's perspective.  Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain other than to avoid him. Stay the course, run the race set before you.  Ignore the seductive exits along the way.  Let your light shine so that people will want to know the one who saved you.

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