11/30/2022
Many Christians take pride in the successes they have in life, and use those to gauge the strength of their faith, but is that a true measure? If we believe as we should, and do those things that God desires of us, is our reward an earthly one? Well, earthly treasure is not the measure that a person of faith should use, and we are warned that we are to look elsewhere. God tells us that He gives us life, but even as we are reading His Word Satan tries to twist our understanding of it.
“And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, I am bringing disaster upon all flesh, declares the Lord. But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go.””
Jeremiah 45:5 ESV
Jesus reiterates what we will be given, but He tells us more precisely that the life He gives us is eternal life, and not an abundant life on earth. Listen as He says that abundance actually means eternal; something Satan is unable to give.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
John 10:10, 28 ESV
Satan wishes to rob us of our relationship with God, and steal from us the eternal life of peace and joy with the Lord that is meant for us by offering a cheap substitute of earthly rewards in its place; substituting an abundant earthly life for eternity. Have we taken his bait? Have we fallen for the bait and switch tactic of the dark one?
“Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
John 8:43-44 ESV
I like to watch the movie “The Christmas Story” each December. It is a humorous recollection of life in the 1940s as seen through the eyes of Ralphie, a young boy. In this movie Ralphie listens to a Little Orphan Annie radio serial that is sponsored by Ovaltine, a chocolate product that was mixed with milk, and he sends for a Little Orphan Annie decoder pin that will allow him to decipher a secret message at the end of each show. As he waits for the decoder pin to arrive in the mail he fantasizes about becoming a member of the Little Orphan Annie Secret Society, and the hidden messages she will send him, but when the pin arrives and he is able to decode the first message it only says…”Drink more Ovaltine”… a commercial message from the sponsor. His hopes are destroyed, and he realizes that he has been fooled.
When Satan tricks us into believing that life on earth is the life promised by God and again by Jesus, it is simply another version of the decider pin in the movie… it is an earthly sham.
A similar thing happens to Ralpie’s father in the movie. When he enters a contest and is told that he has won “a major award”, he puffs up his chest with pride, but when it arrives it is a gaudy lamp whose base is a plastic woman’s leg in fishnet stockings. He too was duped, but unlike Ralphie he won’t admit it, and places the lamp in the front window of his home claiming he has accomplished something worth honoring.
Both father and son were tricked, and if we listen to Satan’s lies about where our reward of life is, we will be too. Our promise of life is not based on earthly possessions, but on eternal life with God.
““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21 ESV
So don’t take the bait! Poor earthly men and women of faith are rich beyond measure in Heaven. When we allow Satan to fool us into believing that our faith is rewarded by earthly life and treasure he is robing us, and placing us in bondage to him. He is attempting to destroy our true reward of eternity with God, and our amazing relationship with Him.
“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Matthew 5:12 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the eternal life that is our reward in you, and your Son Jesus. Thank you for your Word that defends us against the lies of Satan, and seals us forever in your arms. Help us to use your Holy Word as Jesus did when we are tempted by the dark one with earthly life and possessions. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who calls us to you through your Son Jesus Christ, and promises us everlasting life if we will believe in Him. Praised be your name for every temptation rebuffed, and for the hope we have in joy, peace, and eternity with you. Merciful are you who gives us escape from temptation, and comforts us in your promises and our hope in you. Cleanse us in the blood of Jesus, and judge us by seeing His image in us on the day of judgement. Pronounce us worthy as your children, and seat us at you glorious table forevermore.
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”
Romans 8:31-32 ESV
Rich Forbes