By Rhonda Stinson
“Buyer beware!” has become a well-worn phrase. At one point or another, we’ve probably all been led to believe that a product will leave us 100% satisfied, but after we purchased the item, we find out otherwise.
There was a woman who wanted a nose job, but didn’t have the money to get it done. She found out about a “doctor” in South America who did plastic surgery at minimal cost. She had a preliminary phone consultation to get an appointment. The doctor explained what the surgery involved, and this woman excitedly underwent the procedure. After she woke up from the anesthesia, she said she was in a great amount of pain, and then….the horror. She said it was like waking up to her worst nightmare, a mutilated face. As I watched the interview my heart went out to her. Her face was extremely disfigured. The so called physician was later incarcerated for illegally posing as a doctor. Not only did he botch the procedure, but the tools used were not sterilized and this woman developed an infection.
Take caution, Satan is a master liar, poser, and thief. He can use seemingly harmless things, people, or situations to lure us in. It might look good and sound good at first, but after we’ve bought into the lie, we’re in a horrible mess.
I bought one of his lies many years ago, and believe me, it has been a nightmare! Thankfully, God makes beauty out of ashes! Satan used the combination of wanting to lose weight, feelings of loneliness and confusion, and pent up anger and bitterness to lure me in. I thought that if I could lose weight, I’d be happy and everything would fall into place. Totally wrong! At first I got compliments and felt good about the weight loss, but the only thing the “seller” (Satan) didn’t reveal was that my fall into temptation came at a high price. It cost me my health, relationships with God and others, happiness, freedom, and it could even cost me my life.
We may be tempted in areas and not even realize we’re being lured in. Has someone enticed you to take “just a peek” at pornographic materials? Are you gambling more and more each day? Did a coworker invite you to go out after work hours, yet you are married? Has a friend’s spouse looked at you lustfully and it made you feel good? Has a friend invited you to wild party with drugs?
There are so many temptations out there and Satan knows the exact ones that will snag us. Satan makes no exceptions; if you are human, you will be tempted!
“Be sober, be vigilant; because you adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41)
What to do if we spot a temptation:
“Resist him [Satan], steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” (1 Peter 5:9)
God will make a way out and strengthen you to resist each temptation that comes our way.
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will also make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
