If you have gone to church your entire life and you are as old as I am (age 37), then you’ve probably heard the following line from a song, we sang often, in Sunday School:
‘The Devil is a SLY ole fox, I’d like to catch him and put him in a box, lock the lid and throw away the key, for all the mean things he’s done to me…’
Today, I don’t want to write about Satan in the box. Instead, I want to talk about how Satan puts us in a box. Even ‘the best’ of Christians can be locked in a box, if we choose to let him (Satan).
Throughout history, we have been set free indeed, only for us to climb back into ‘the box’.
The first Americans (the Pilgrims), as well as many other immigrants, in search for freedom, have come to
Many young people run away from home, many adults run away from society, friends, and family, to drink their alcohol, smoke their drugs, live how they want…all in the name of finding their freedom…only to find themselves…back in the box.
I personally, have spent the past 17 years as a slave to drugs. I didn’t start out smoking weed as a slave. I partied with alcohol, then marijuana because it was
The first thing I had to do when I woke up was get high. During my lunch breaks, at work, I had to drive around and get high. If I were going to church…you guessed it…I had to get high - first. If I was spending the day with my extended family, I especially had to get higher than ever, to the point of taking pills with it. What started out as fun (for my freedom) ultimately put me back into chains. Chains that I couldn’t break free from – no matter how hard I tried.
When I drove from point A to point B, in my car with my sweet children, I would look back in my rear view mirror and ask myself WHY, WHY, WHY am I driving around STONED with my kids in the car. I could have easily caused a wreck and killed them, as well as other kids on the road. And if you know me at all, apart from God, kids are the sweetest gifts (blessings) on this Earth!!!).
You could be telling yourself this: Well, I would never do drugs, and I’m not in ‘the box’ that you are referring. Folks, don’t be so sure. If you disobey God each and everyday with your little white lie, or with a slip of your tongue in gossip, or with pampering yourself with things like expensive education, high-paying jobs, ice cubes, electricity, television(s), expensive coffee, cell phones…….) then you could easily be in same box that I am referring. The greed and debt in America is out of control, and has put many of us Christians in the box of guilt and selfishness.
Hebrews 13:5
Did you know? Most of the people, living on this earth, live without electricity and ice cubes (and yes, the Wii game system), and these folks tend to live much happier lives because they don’t ‘need’ all of these material things, that we do, to ‘survive’, and they spend more time with their families, than they do their jobs!!!
We pay a dear price for all of our fun, comfort, luxuries... It seems that the more we ‘need’ the more we have to work to get these things. Even if you have a ‘gravy’ job, then you most likely have already paid a dear price and spent many years receiving the education necessary in securing your job (which isn’t all that secure anymore). If you are spending more money in interest than you are in giving, then you know exactly what I am saying... you don't feel very FREE do you?
The devil is a master at putting us back in the box. Even as Christians, we tend to be chained up in knots. We may be sure of our salvation (which I found many are not)... and even with our assurance of Heaven, knowing we are children of The King, we live as slaves – day in and day out.
If you suffer from drugs, alcohol, sexual desires, evil thoughts, gossip, bitterness, depression, food... addictions, then you know what it means to be a SLAVE, and you might just have the strongest desires to break free, but just can’t.
Not long ago, I had the privilege of meeting (face to face) a sweet lady that contacted me through my website. She is only 30 years young and experiences the chains of slavery (alcohol).
My wife and I had a nice time visiting with her over dinner and coffee (which we made by electricity, and yes, we are in debt). After our fellowship, I drove her to her next destination, and we had the chance to talk about addiction. She assured me that her life was getting better. She doesn’t drink nearly as much as she used to (Praise God). She is attempting ‘church’ again. She is excited to start college, and she cherishes the life of her precious little 5-year-old boy, that has stood beside her every ‘fall’ of the way.
This little boy has witnessed his mom beaten, and has tried to defend her in every way possible. In the morning, before school, this young man can dress himself, brush his teeth, feed himself, lotion himself…(all this mother needs to do is yell from her bed to wake him up, and this 5 year old can do the rest. )
This young lady does have many days to be thankful for, as she is now skipping days with her drinking, and she is extremely thankful to God for any help she can get. She tried hard to tell me that she is trying hard, and that she is ever so thankful when she doesn’t wake up sick from a hang over. When she drinks, she may drink a six-pack of beer verses pints of whisky.
I could feel her joy, but at the same time, I could feel her pain, as her tears streamed down her face.
I explained to her that I was proud of her accomplishments, really proud. And that I was sure God was proud of her resenting her addication and for trying to do better, especially trying to take time for Him, through His Word, prayer, and fellowship.
This young lady just lost her best friend this past year, by death.
For my friend not to be drunk this Christmas is a miracle from God. And her efforts, not to drink as much, will not go unnoticed by God (and her son).
I told her to lay down her burdens at Jesus’ feet, that when God looks down on her from Heaven, the only thing God sees is the blood of His Son Jesus covering her. God has forgiven her because she is a child of God, and God has put her failures as far as the East is from the West!!!
God laid it on my heart to try my hardest to say the following to her, before dropping her off at her friend's house:
Yes, God is proud of her. Yes, God feels her pain. Yes, any attempt she makes for God will not go unnoticed. Yes, she doesn’t have to feel guilt and shame, because she is putting her hope in God. BUT, what God wants for this young lady is not obedience only (although important). God wants her to be
God paid a dear price for all of us to be
I tried to explain to her that she is still addicted, because the alcohol that she turns to, is keeping her in guilt and in chains.
Jesus wants to set her
God had me tell her this as well, as I found out personally. She can’t end her addiction on her own, no matter how hard she tries. Even if she managed to lay her addiction down for an entire week, she would still live with the cravings for a lifetime – which is not
God knows the desires of her heart (and yours), and I believe with my whole heart that He cares for her especially, because her heart for others is very unique and hard to find.
God is powerful enough to take this addiction away (in His time), again, I know because I am LIVING proof!!! Thank you Jesus!!! She will have to discover for herself, the very bottom (but, I am sure she has been there). She will have to hand her addiction over to God, and tell Him that He is the Only One in this situation that is POWERFUL ENOUGH to end her anguish.
Jesus loves each and every one of YOU!!! His strongest desire for YOU is to be SET
Psalms 118:5 “In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and he answered me by setting me
Dear Heavenly Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, please wrap your Loving arms around my new friend, and give her the peace, joy, love, faith, deliverance, healing…that she desires more than ever – especially for her son’s sweet life…and God we ask a special protection over her and her son…She needs You and Your super natural powers, because she is at her weakest, and she is begging for help, the type of help only You are able to provide. Thank you God for sending her to me, it inspires me to keep running for You, and to keep myself from slipping into my old life. Thank you God in advance for healing and loving on my new friend. In Jesus’ Precious and Holy Name, Amen.
Mark
(Jesus said) "Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
Romans
Be Free Indeed!!!
In His Hands,
Love, Glen
Mark