Sometimes, many times, I want to do what my sinful nature wants me to do. But I am reminded constantly I am a child of God. God has a way we do not always understand. We often do not understand HOW God’s way is better than what our sinful nature says is better. But that’s the devil in our ears, talking down about the importance of serving God out of love. Satan doesn’t want us to believe God’s way is better. He wants us to believe the lie that God is withholding something from us that will make us happier…untrue. God will withhold nothing to help us succeed to the fullest in life. Clearly, or He wouldn’t have made us, sent Jesus to die for us, and promised to help us get back home to meet Him face to face in the new earth!
Now, that being said, it is hard to go against what our sinful nature is telling us. Especially if we haven’t learned or understood the significance of God’s instructions in the Bible. Why would God say something and not put a purpose behind what He said? Even Satan has a purpose for what he says. Satan’s purpose behind every lie He tells us is to deceive us and make us believe that God does not love us, does not care about us, and is unfair to us.
Satan downplays God’s laws. Satan says, “ye shall NOT surely die.” Disobeying the law— Eve found out that was a LIE, but far too late. But God in His mercy and love sent Jesus to die for the sins of all humans throughout time. He died so we don’t have to die. It’s a choice. You do not have to serve God, but sin does bring death. Satan is real; death is real. Jesus is real; and life is precious.
Many times, I want to do things my own way. But knowledge of God’s love for me, and His desire for me to be saved, makes me stop and think. The devil knows Jesus has to rid the earth of sin and destroy it. But sin, being in each of us, means we need a Savior. Jesus Christ is the only one who can save us. These Bible verses help: “No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). “With man this is impossible but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). “He who began a good work in you is faithful to complete it” (Philippians 1:6).
So, I pause to think about God’s concern for me. He really is on my side in the battle of sin and death. He is trying, but will we listen and understand that He made us and knows what will make us happiest?
It’s annoying. It takes patience. It’s not easy. It’s risky, but …Satan wants us to die. And he will lie to get you to discredit God’s law of love, intended to set us free from a life of sin. We aren’t ultimately happy anyway when we sin. Though sinful human nature likes the sin, God’s mark on our hearts and minds when He made us is still there. And our whole self is searching for a way to be fulfilled in life. We just get confused on how to achieve that.
Pray to God. He is listening and God does care about us all. Next time you read “Don’t” in the Bible, remember the Lord, your best Friend, who died for you and would willingly do anything to help you. Remember that God is not yelling STOP to keep you from enjoying life. He’s yelling STOP to keep you from getting hit.
“Lord, we thank you for your protection and love for us all. Teach us to love one another as brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, instead of being enemies. For we know that the real enemies are not flesh and blood, but spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). Behind the scenes of life, where we cannot see, You are protecting us from the devil. And I thank you, God, for loving me, allowing me to live and to have an invitation from you to join Your party in heaven and the new earth. Amen.”
Allissa Morrison is a former student of College View Academy and a member of the College View Seventh-day Adventist Church. She grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska, and enjoys working in fast food.
