“Back before we moved here,” Stan commented one morning, “there was a fellow in our church who had a personal testimony about the devastation of sin that can result from forgetting a single word.”
“Forgetting a single word?” I replied. “What word?”
“Everything,” Stan said.
“Which is it?” I responded. “A single word or everything?”
“Both,” Stan replied. “The single word is ‘everything.’ That’s the word the apostle Paul used when he wrote to the church in Ephesus about standing firm again evil. And this was the point of the fellow’s testimony: he didn’t do everything to stand firm, and it cost him dearly.”
“In what way?” I asked.
“His marriage, his family, his home, just about everything in his life was gone because he had not done all he could to stand firm against the destruction that Satan wanted. He said that the only good that came from it was he was awakened to the reality of sin’s destructive power. He confessed, repented, and has drawn ever closer to God through the ordeal.”
“Did God restore his marriage, family, and all that had been lost?” I asked.
“He did not,” Stan replied. “At least not yet. God restored the man, but there were consequences of his sin that have remained, and that is part of this man’s testimony.”
“How so?” I asked.
“He said he believes that he has gone through what he has,” Stan said, “so that the warning to others about the danger of forgetting ‘everything’ in standing firm is even more impactful. It’s a serious warning for each of us. Even though we may have the assurance of salvation for when we step into eternity, Satan is still seeking to draw us away from God on this side.”
“And we are to stand firm in everything?” I responded. “Is that the point you’re making?”
“It’s not just me who is making the point, my friend,” Stan said. “It’s in God’s word, I take that warning seriously, and I think you should as well!”
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Bible verses to consider:
Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and have done everything, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:13.
Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:11.
Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your provision of all I need to resist Satan and to stand firm again him. I confess that too often I do not do everything I can, and, as a result, he is able to interfere with my relationship with you. Even though he cannot affect my eternal destination to be with you when my time here is completed, he can impact my effectiveness as yours on this side. Please, Father, help me in following every step of your lead to do everything I can to stand firm and prevent him from doing that. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you accepted by faith Jesus’ victory over Satan on the cross and, therefore, know you are going to spend eternity in God’s presence when your time here is completed? If no, why? It’s available as a free and gracious gift that only needs to be accepted by faith. If you do have the assurance of salvation, how are you with doing “everything” to stand firm against what Satan wants to do in interfering with your relationship with God in Christ on this side of eternity? As well as you would like? As well as God would like? If you sense changes may be necessary in your “everything,” how are those changes going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 