Sundry things Satan is using against the Church.
And ‘cause he has but very short time left today,
To devour fast and quick, must be his endeavor.
But first he must make this age the Laodicean Age!
Thinking perhaps the Church he may prevail against
Devices flesh-inviting but dire he employs;
With multitude exercised therein for allure,
But its future ruinous effect ignorant of.
Yet few there are who his ‘lurking’ devices know,
For the foundation of our God stands very sure;
That’s, the gates of hell can’t against the Church prevail,
For the Father God His own knows too very well:
Those who themselves purify, for glorious hope!
The enemy’s devices, ‘gates’ of hell they hate.
Two of such sundry ‘gates’ may we remind the Church:
One, mammon worship; the other, body ‘make-up’:
Lying spirits always just there to flesh sell to,
Or on lust easily preyed on to sorry ruins!
O mammon worship, how it entices slyly;
And then grips the soul till it empties it in hell!
O this Satan’s sweeping deception called “make-up”
Which in verity is unmaking our women;
This that takes from God-fixed station to another!
So, whenever there be uncertainty in mind,
Or controversy, the clean way out may be this:
Take that which without doubt gives no threat the Last Day;
That’s the best and safest thing pilgrims have to do.
Gamble in matters eternal, only fools will;
That which offers no second chance: No, we dare not!
We know they that are Christ's the flesh have crucified
And that with the affections and lusts attendant!
Let not flesh fog this heaven’s route trod by saints past.
Like them, this world we can’t drag along heaven’s path,
For the way is narrow and yet very hilly,
Sometimes rough and sometimes steep, and yet sometimes both:
This is heaven’s way; and way of holiness too,
Here Christ walks with all faithful with grace abounding!
The world, things of the world cannot go far therein.
And, of course, the Lord they cannot walk along with!
How far you go is thus factor of what’s let go;
Getting atop it with Christ is to let go all!
The Orpahs not letting go may find the way strange;
But like Ruth may we get off all Moab’s roots today;
For what’s this prosperity craze, mammon-worship
And this body ‘make-ups’ obsession here and there!
O that the Church of Christ could be spared just all these:
‘Cause dating back to Babylon and Satan they’re,
Or springing from fiery bosom of hell, that is!
Repentance, turning away, how imperative:
For this only will be priceless on the Lord’s Day.
Read more articles by Eferovo Igho or search for articles on the same topic or others.
