Once a baby bear started off from its den with its mother. Away down the mountains it came. At last the mother stopped. In front of her was a big piece of meat on a stick, It looked very tempting, yet she could sniff the human scent, and that made her cautious; for the bear is always suspicious of man. But the meat looked nice and juicy and the longer she kept her eyes on it, the more her month watered: it would do no harm, she thought, merely to lick it. How sweet it tasted! The moment she touched it, she felt she must have it at all risks. So she began to pull it off the pole. She pulled and pulled, when all of a sudden down came a big beam which she had not noticed; it felled her to the ground, and killed her on the spot, crushing her body under its huge weight. When the trapper came next morning they found the baby hear sitting by its mother, wondering that she did not move. They caught it and took it away to a menagerie.
Now that is just how boys and girls are caught in the trap of sin. The temptation looks so pleasant. They say there is no harm in doing what is bad just for hhce. Then the trap closes on them. Sin has caught them in it meshes, and Satan has a tighter hand on his victims.
Now, how can one be delivered from the power of such a cruel foe? Listen, carefully, dear children, forever. EVERYONE of us HAS been caught in Satan’s trap, whether we know it or not, a. there is only ONE way of escape.
Jesus, the Son of God, became a man so that He might die for our sins, to bear our punishment, and destroy, him that had the power of death, that is, Satan, and deliver from his hold all those who BELIEVE that Jesus died for them (See Heb. 2:14, 1514Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:14‑15)).
You remember that sharp, sword with which the giant Goliath expected to kill David? So terrible a weapon was it in Goliath’s mighty hand, that I suppose many had been slain by it. We might call that glistening sword, “Death.” But David, who is a picture of Jesus, takes the giant’s sword. “Death” and destroys Goliath, who a picture of Satan with it. Thus this brave boy set free all those pot trembling Israelites, who for days it had been quaking before this fearful giant. How thankful they must have been when they saw David hold up the terrible giant’s head. They then had it the slightest doubt that their enemy was dead, and could have no further power over them.
In the same way, Jesus DIED so that we might not have to die and delivered all who believe in Him from Satan’s power. Satan himself will one day be cast into the Lake of Fire, from which he will never escape.
Are you still a captive to sin ah, Satan? If you remain so, he will take you to that dreadful place to which he is going. Why not be free? Why not say,
“Jesus died for ME — He has set me free from sin and Satan.” Faith in what Jesus has done gives the victory,
ML 05/26/1946