Five-year-old Danny and his three-year-old brother David live in the country. They love to play outdoors and sometimes they get into mischief. David especially loves to play with tools. Sometimes he gets into his Dad’s toolbox.
One day as they were outside playing, two strangers came along and began talking to them. After the young men went away the boys went inside and told Daddy and Mommy about it.
This was a good opportunity for them to explain to the boys how careful they must be with strangers. “If anybody ever talks to you and offers you some candy, don’t take it. They might want to take you with them and steal you away from Mommy and Daddy. There are bad people who want to do bad things to little boys and girls. So be very careful, and don’t ever go with someone you don’t know.”
The boys were listening carefully. Suddenly David said, “What if they give you tools?”
Little David might refuse the candy, but he would have a hard time refusing the tools.
There is a lesson in this story. We all have an enemy that wants to harm us. He does not want us to come to the Lord Jesus to be saved from our sins. And for those of us who are already saved, he wants to spoil our lives so we will not be happy. Then no one will hear of the Saviour from us. That enemy is Satan.
He uses people to deceive or trick us. “Many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver.” 2 John 77For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (2 John 7). Some of Satan’s deceivers are very religious. They bring false religions to our door. “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming [changing] themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed [changed] into an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:13,1413For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:13‑14).
Satan uses many things to trick us. The Bible mentions things like this: “Take heed [pay attention] to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting [overeating], and drunkenness, and cares of this life.” Luke 21:3434And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. (Luke 21:34). It may be one thing with you and something else for me, but he has something different to attract every one of us away from Christ. Just like little David, who may not be tricked by candy, would have a hard time refusing tools.
Satan’s dangerous tricks can be things like sports, TV, hobbies, jobs and anything that makes us so busy we have no time to read our Bibles. These things attract boys and girls and men and women away from the Lord. We soon don’t have time even to pray or go to meetings to learn about the Lord Jesus.
It is important for those of us who love the Lord Jesus to fill our minds with Himself. “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:22Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2). This is what makes Christians happy. When we are busy with these things we will not be doing sinful things. “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” John 13:1717If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. (John 13:17).
“The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust.” Psalm 18:22The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. (Psalm 18:2).
ML-09/13/1992