CHECKMATE...PAL!!!
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the DEVIL’S SCHEMES. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.-Eph 6:11-12
It’s been Chess all the way in the Indian media and the International sports media at large in the last few days what with the Indian Chess champion-Vishy Anand- retaining the World Chess championship crown against a formidable foe, Boris Gelfand of Israel (a Russian who has taken Israeli citizenship). It was a classic battle going right down to the wire, with the Indian champ to use the racing parlance piping his adversary finally at the post. For someone who has enjoyed this mind game of 64 squares from childhood, besides squaring off with wily ole foe (devil many a time) for 29 (at the time of this writing) years of my Christian life, immediately some parallels between temptations in spiritual life and a game of chess was bound to emerge. So here goes…all in the spirit of weaving spiritual truths around contemporary events (a la Master – Luke 13:1-5)!!!
Christian life is much like a chess game, when the good Lord allows the devil to tempt us. At this stage, it would serve us well to get the co-ordinates right about the meaning of the word “temptation”. Temptation of the world, flesh or Satan directly is an enticement into lawlessness (I John 3:4). To put it more simply, temptation is an enticing invitation to do anything (it may be an action or even inaction-James 4:17) against God’s will.
Permit me to sidetrack a bit, ideally, when we intend to please the Lord and make it our primary objective, the devil stands defeated by default. I still remember my days of youth, when there were some phases in my life, during which I would be spending long hours in prayer, virtually “romancing my Creator” enjoying Him to the hilt. At that time the temptations of the flesh (bane of many a youngster-2 Tim 2:22 ) would simply disappear, so much so I used to wonder why there have been no temptations of the flesh for so many days and then smile to myself soliloquizing oh, it is because I am so close to my Lord. That I would resist the temptations (James 4:7), once they came eventually is another matter altogether.
However, at times the good Lord permits the Evil One to tempt us keeping our eventual welfare in His mind (I Peter 1:6-9). Remember, even the Son of God was not exempted from undergoing temptations (Matt 4:1-11). Now this brings us to spiritual game of chess. Taking on scheming Satan is not so much about engaging him physically as it is about taking him on mentally. A mind well-grounded in the Scriptures (Psalm 1:2) is ideally well-equipped to see through the wiles of the foxy foe.
Let it be said at this stage of the Father of all lies (John 8:44) that in his “tool-kit of tricks, LIE is the only handle which can fit all his tools”. No wonder, God’s word exhorts us “not to be unaware of his schemes” (II Cor 2:11), in order we can be on guard always.
So what are his sly schemes built on lies, everyone (the saved and the unsaved ones) need to be wary of? Stealthy acts, which can do us infinitely more damage than our opponents in a chess game can do. Firstly, let’s have a look at the lies he uses on those who have never tasted God’s redemptive love
1.EVOLUTION:
When the Bible speaks about Creation of man in His own image (Gen 1:27) by involution (Gen 2:7), the Father of all lies readily sells THE BIGGEST LIE about Evolution, putting the simple-minded tragically on the path of spiritual degenerative devolution! Even recently, there was News in the media about the buses in London being plastered with the sleazy slogan “There is probably no God, now stop worrying and enjoy life”. Now who is to share with my atheist friends the experience of every saved sinner that God not only exists but He himself is the source of all lasting joy (John 15:11) as the Psalmist would readily testify “Oh taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8)?
Is there a very empirical test for those with a “scientific bent of mind” to examine for themselves that all what the Bible says about Adam’s spotless creation (innocent and holy was he as little children, who dash about naked merrily in our homes, even as their hearts are completely pure) and his fall into sin are all true? They would have to just look at their natural inclination to “cloth themselves” and the truth as to why such an innate tendency is there in us all -explained by the Bible (Genesis 3:7)- would dawn upon them. Even in the atheists’/pro-evolutionists’ conference, is not everyone immaculately dressed? One wonders why none in defiance of Genesis 3:7, walks around naked, even in the atheists or pro-evolutionists’ meetings! I say this not in contempt but with utmost concern in my hearts for their souls.
More than anything else, I would request the atheists and the Darwin supporters to test the Lord themselves by praying sincerely to Him in the hour of their need and “taste” the answers for themselves!
2.GENERALIZATION:
Hey all religious roads lead to ONE GOD! This is yet, another lie, which the Father of all lies sells with deadly effect to the easily deceived souls (Proverbs 14:12). Either Jesus was a liar himself or the really the Saviour of all when He declared “I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE” (John 14:6)! Would not the truth be clear as daylight when we consider the fact that the one who made this stupendous statement was a HOLY, SINLESS PERSON WITH NO GUILE RIGHT FROM THE WOMB TO THE TOMB (John 8:46). Jesus IS NOT one of the many ways to God but THE ONE AND ONLY WAY! Period.
Look at what Jesus also taught, “I am the vine and you are branches…. You cannot do anything apart from ME (John 15:5)”! Without Christ indwelling us in spirit (Romans 8:9), we who are all “connected” to the fallen and sinful Adam (talk of Genetics and transmission of sinful traits from father to a offspring) cannot by our own strength lead a HOLY life abounding in good deeds! Self-confessed hopeless struggle of Paul to escape from the clutches of sin is a pointer to this fact (Romans 7:14-25). Yes, how can we be indifferent to the great salvation plan of God in Christ and hope to escape the Divine wrath (Heb 2:3)?
The specific truth (not a generalized one) is that on the Great day of Judgment, many would be judged not as much for sinning, as for not depending on Him, for escaping the allurements of sin…not as much for not doing good as for not leaning upon His strength for doing good. A GREATER SIN THAN ANY ACT OF COMMITTING SIN IS TRYING NOT TO SIN WITHOUT DEPENDING ON THE SAVIOUR POWER! Anyone who cannot comprehend this truth, the Bible declares “has been blinded by…who else…the Father of all lies” (II Corinthians 4:4)!
Now coming to Satan’s insidious attempts to waylay a believer, who has already “tasted” God’s love.
1. PERCEPTION:
He would always try to make us “perceive” things we ought to avoid looking at. Eve’s fall can be originally traced back to “looking” (Genesis 3:6) at the forbidden fruit. How nice it would have been had she completely avoided looking at it, in the first place! Also, never get carried away by a lie, even when it’s cunningly sandwiched in betwixt the seemingly inviting fresh bread and presented. Did not the wily ole’ foe sandwich the lie “you will not die”, between the alluring true bread “your eyes will be opened” and “you will be wise as God”? On the subject of the original temptation, it needs to be reiterated that even 99.9% truth is not truth…truth is 100% truth. Period. Nothing more, nothing less and nothing else!
Samson’s fall also illustrates the fact sin does not actually leap on us but stealthily creeps on us! Had Samson avoided looking at an erotic philistine lady (out of bounds for him), all the trouble, which he fell into later, could have been avoided!!! Samson fall was not a sudden crash but a slow decline into pleasures of flesh, from which there would be no escape (Judges 16). Nothing quite like nipping in the bud a tempting thought (be it of sexual or financial immorality)! No wonder Paul exhorts young Timothy to “Keep a close watch on all you do and THINK…” (I Tim 4:16- TLB)
While on the subject, let me emphasize getting tempted is not sin (remember our Lord too was tempted), but how we respond to the temptation is what is crucial to our spiritual welfare. We cannot avoid a sparrow from flying over our head in the sky but we can surely prevent it from hatching a nest on our heads (thanks Martin Luther for this pearl of wisdom)!
2. NEGATION:
Another of Satan’s pet tools’ is to make us look yearningly at “pets” of others (II Sam 11:1-4/1 Kings 21:1-4 –TLB), without appreciatively counting the “pets” God has already placed in our hands. Negated far into the background of our thoughts are the blessings, we have received from God’s bountiful hand. So effectively, if Satan is a proven expert in making US LOOK at what we ought not to see, he is just as skilful in making us NOT SEE, what we ought to look at thankfully.
The grass would always look greener on the other side for those, who turn a blind eye (blinded by the spiritual adversary) to lush green grass on their own side of the fence. Even as the Jews were being fed a Divine food miraculously in the wilderness en-route to the Promised Land, did not the food “on the other side of the fence” (read Egypt) appeal more to them with tragic results (Numbers 11)?
3.BOTHERATION:
It is said that as long as you are bothered and worried stiff about your future, Satan wouldn’t be bothered about you! Since it would mean that he has you well and truly caught in his “mind trap”. He is a “natural” at selling clever lies such as that the coming days in this period of “economic meltdown” are going to be “too hot” for you to handle. Oh how would my future pan out, is the vexing question in the minds of many nowadays robbing them of the joyous fellowship with the Lord. That is why the Bible exhorts us to live one day at a time (Matt 6:34) casting our entire burden upon our Lord, who is willing to carry them (I Peter 5:7). In this fallen world, sometimes groaning out of the difficulties created by the unscrupulous are inevitable, but if He has promised to bring you, out of them, He certainly would (I Peter 5:10)! Remember Joseph…
Want to have peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7)? Then say along with me “I may not know what the future holds, but I personally know and love the ONE who holds the future”. Has not the good Lord, who faithfully sustained you in the days’ gone-by going to sustain you in the days to come also? Say Amen!
4.FRICTION:
What would the devil not do to make Christians fight with one another? If it is publicly all the more better…for it would serve his wicked ends of publicly tarnishing image of our good Lord. Ideally, when there is agape love in the hearts of God’s children, this problem would not arise. But there may be a friction between two Christians on account of different levels of spiritual growth or it may be on account of doctrinal differences’ or perceived unfairness in business deals. This is where magnanimity or the greater spiritual maturity of one of the individuals (may be the one at the receiving end) ought to come to the fore to rescue the situation (Luke 12:48). For the Lord expects more from those, He has given more…
Say Child of God, is there any friction in your marriage or your Church, without succumbing to the Satan’s temptation of “getting even” with the ‘hurting ones’, have you prayed to the good Lord along with those “hurting you” to take away any bitterness (Heb 12:15) from everyone’s heart, so that the Lord is pleased and His Name glorified?
5.DEPRESSION:
Sometimes, Devil would trip you (I would be the first to admit that he tripped me many a time) and worse urge you to remain “in fallen condition”. You are of no use to the Almighty, he would whisper sinisterly into your ears, you might as well call it quits but do not let his words of discouragement “pin” you down. Remember great Saints like David, Jonah and Peter who “got up from the canvas, after being down for a count” with a repentant heart and fought the “good fight for the Lord”. Claim the promise in 1 John 1:9… Hey, Anand lost game 7 briefly went into a depression and bounced back to win game 8 resoundingly. By the way, please do not take the comparison to its logical conclusion. Let me categorically state here Gelfand is no devil…
6.OBLITERATION:
It is historically proven that people can perish because of lack of spiritual knowledge (Hosea 4:6). Satan would try his best to obliterate from the minds of the believers the constant reminder (II Tim 3:16,17) to be well versed in the Bible. He knows very well that if believers start claiming the Biblical promises (there are more than 7000 of them), he would not be able to sow seeds of doubt in their minds as to God’s goodness and faithfulness. In the absence of sound Biblical instruction, we are prone to delve deep into the deep, dry wells of self-sufficiency instead of waiting upon Him to provide for our needs (II Corinthians 12:9) and that’s exactly what our spiritual adversary wants! Remember Asa’s self-sufficient ways of folly and the tragic consequences (II Chronicles 16:1-9)?
Our Lord Jesus himself countered Satan in the midst of his temptations in the wilderness by quoting the Scriptures (Deuteronomy 8:3, 6:16, 6:13). Our Lord’s method of nullifying the Satanic temptations is still the best way to neutralize the latter’s subtle tricks.
While on the subject of Scriptures, disguised as legitimate doubts, would come some posers from the wily ole’ enemy…
a) Can you, living in the NT era claim the Biblical promises of the OT era? The answer to that question is a resounding YES, all of promises given to Abraham apply to Christ (Gal 3:16/3:29), and since we are in Christ, they apply to us also…as such, WE CAN CLAIM THEM! HALLELUJAH!
b) Considering that there are as many as 31,102 verses in the Bible how can you recollect the right scripture portion to counter my temptations at the right time? To settle this doubt, once and for all we can claim this promise!
“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my
name, will teach you all things and will REMIND you of everything I
have said to you.” -John 14:26
We do the job of reading the Bible reverentially over and over again, God will do His of reminding us of the right Scripture portion, at the right time. We ought to do the possible leaving the impossible to Him.When the men at Lazarus tomb, did the POSSIBLE of removing the
tombstone and did Jesus not do the IMPOSSIBLE of raising his dead and decaying friend to life (John 11:38-44)?
The above guiles may be by no means, the only aces’ Satan has up his sleeve. However in conclusion, let me affirm the simple “TRUTH” that God gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ (I Cor 15:57). The secret of leading a victorious spiritual life (John 8:30-32) by steering clear of Satan’s lies’ as always lies on we carefully following the ONE WHO CLAIMED TO BE THE TRUTH (John 14:6)!
Finally folks claim these promises’ of “checkmating” the enemy…
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.-I Cor 10:13
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet...Romans 16:20
Hallelujah!!!
(Suresh Manoharan)
ps: Replete with pics/animations this message is also now available at the following URL...
http://www.jandsmministries.com/World_Championship_special.asp
