When we first knew a young lady whom we will call Mary, she was a bright Christian who spoke of the Lord and signed her letters “saved by grace.” She found the Lord Jesus a truly satisfying Object, and disdained worldly amusements. Being a bright witness for the Lord, she was at once a special target of Satan. When Jesus was on earth the devil opposed Him, but today he seeks to ensnare those that belong to the Lord Jesus. Though he cannot rob them of their salvation, he wants them to give an un-Christian testimony and false report of their Saviour before the world. This enemy of Christ used some old friends of Mary’s to seek to persuade her that she was missing something since she had given up the world’s pleasures. They urged her time after time to go with them to the picture show, and often referred to other Christians who went to shows as a reason for her going.
Under this pressure, Mary finally consented to go with them “just once”, and true to her promise was found that evening at the picture show. That was the most miserable evening Mary had ever spent up to that time, and she longed to get out. For a while she thought of getting up and leaving her companions in the show; but the wily foe reminded her of the laughs and jeers which would surely come, so he won the battle. The following week Mary was again urged to go with the crowd. This time she was more easily persuaded, but again spent the entire evening in regrets for having been there.
As time went on Mary would go with a little more ease, but still her conscience would smite her, and she lost many good nights’ sleep. It annoyed her that she could not have as good a time as the other girls with whom she went. She did not heed her conscience, nor the warnings of the Word of God. Finally conscience stopped its prickings, and Mary could now enjoy the pleasures with which Satan leads men and women to hell. The enemy had won his point, and he could now use her as an example for other Christians to follow. He always has some he can use for this purpose, but he never tells the sequel.
Dear young Christian, has the devil suggested to you that you are missing something by not indulging in the pleasures of this world? Has he told you that the shows, dances, and other worldly amusements are truly worth having? If so, let me warn you that he lies to you, and is hiding his sting. By all means read the sequel in Mary’s case.
Today, this once happy Christian is a most miserable person. The subtle enemy that led her on step by step to dishonor her Lord, is now mocking her with taunts of what she has done. He now says,
“You couldn’t be a true Christian, and do what you have.”
Poor Mary is now in deep, deep distress of soul, and wonders if she were ever saved. She has proved that the devil lied to her, and that what he promised as happiness was all a delusion.
O beware of Satan’s wiles! Beware of displeasing the Lord “just once.” If you have done so, by all means confess it at once to God your Father, who “is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Your heart is too large for the vanities of this evil world to satisfy. Satan controls men today by means of the “lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of life.” The Christian cannot indulge in these things without loss to his soul, and eventual dishonor to the Lord. What the world calls pleasure is only for “a season” (Heb. 11:2525Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; (Hebrews 11:25)). The Christian who lives for the Lord has true pleasures which will be enjoyed throughout eternity – they are “forever more” (Psa. 16:1111Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Psalm 16:11)).
May God enable you to sing from the heart those precious lines:
Naught, naught I court as pleasure,
Compared, O Christ, with Thee!
Thy sorrow, without measure,
Earned peace and joy for me!
I love to own, Lord Jesus,
Thy claims o’er me divine,
Bought with Thy blood most precious,
Whose can I be but Thine!