Thought for Today - May 10, 2024
The Hidden Enemy Of Our Soul
By: Robert A. Searles
There is an invisible, unseen enemy that is ever present with us in the world today, and is the destroyer of individuals, families, and nations, and if allowed to go unchecked will bring each of us down to the lowest hell, disgrace, and degradation. It is one of the besetting sins which is inherent in each and every one of us from our birth and remains with us through our unregenerate natural state. It is the root cause of most of the misery, wars, bloodshed and turmoil that we encounter in our present day world. This diabolical enemy is very subtitle, and can assume many different identities. It was present in the heart of Lucifer, God's created angel of light, when he became jealous of God and was expelled from Heaven because of his EVIL AMBITION. “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most high. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.”Isaiah 14: 12-15
It was found also in the heart and mind of Eve when she was beguiled by the serpent in the garden of Eden.
“And when the women saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was PLEASANT TO THE EYES, and a tree to be DESIRED to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also to her husband with her and he did eat.” Gen. 3: 6.
The same enemy overwhelmed David in an unguarded moment, and enticed him to seek after and commit adultery with Bathsheba and eventually murder her husband, which later caused him grief and the death of his son, Absalom.
“And it came to pass in an eventide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the King's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK UPON. And David sent and inquired after the woman, and one said, is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness, and she returned to her house. And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.” 2 Samuel 11: 2-5
Something beautiful to look upon awakened the enemy of David's soul, an unlawful SEXUAL DESIRE for that which was morally off limits to him. This enemy of our soul is always at work, to some degree, in all of us, and most of the time we do not recognize it as we should, as the origin of sin. It may be known as a passionate, overmastering desire or appetite, an excessive longing or desire for objects or situations for which we have no right to desire or expect, or a craving for power, or an enviable lifestyle, evil ambition, strong overwhelming sexual desire. Whatever we may call it, God our Father calls it by its' rightful name, the sin of the flesh – LUST. We are warned in the scriptures to be aware of, and to flee from our enemy - the lust of the flesh which bringeth forth death. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: but every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin,: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1: 12-15
“Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity,
peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2: 22.
Let us all henceforth, take heed to God's warning and be aware of and flee from our enemy - THE LUST OF THE FLESH
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