Bible Studies

Part Three

Adversity is not the only tool in the devil’s tool box.

Many believers are taken away from the post salvation plan of God by the pursuit of earthly pleasures and prosperity that the devil (1) is more than glad to make available.

Not only does the devil keep potential disciples pre-occupied with the available pleasures and prosperity that this world has to offer, he knows that the prosperity of the wicked (worldly-minded individuals) can be a great hurdle for many observing born-again believers to overcome, along the road to spiritual maturity.

There is nothing wrong with obtaining, possessing, and enjoying legitimate prosperity, but, “For what does it benefit a person to gain the whole world (everything he wants) and ( then) forfeit his soul (Mark 8: 36 NASB2020 parentheses mine)?”

One of the reasons that God allows some of us to become earthly successful is to place us in a position where we can take a public stand, identifying with Him, in front of fans and spectators.

Not all of us can handle prosperity well, There is a tendency to become arrogant and prideful, setting the stage for a major fall (2). Haughty eyes (looking down our noses) is number one on God’s Prov. 6: 16-19 list of abominations that He hates. The order in which people or things appear in Scripture often reflects their significance in relation to the subjet at hand.

Know that not all earthly “prosperity” comes from God (3).

The devil promotes prosperity among those who are willing to do things his way, knowing how infuriating the prosperity of the wicked can be in the eyes of envious, weak believers.

Some say that God allows the wicked to enjoy their short-lived prosperity as an act of mercy, as this is the only joy they will ever have, facing an eternity of never-ending torment in Hell. It’s like allowing a condemned man to have his choice of one last good meal, before facing the hangman in the morning.

It matters not (to the devil) if he takes souls out of the plan of God by way of prosperity or adversity, as long as he gets what he wants at the end of the day.

What he wants is for unsaved, Hell-bound souls to remain that way, and for the post salvation spiritual life of the born-again believer to be unproductive (4), denying God the glory that He would otherwise receive.

The individuals, in the eyes of the devil, are no more than pawns on a chess board, easily disposed of, once their usefulness has served its purpose. Satan shed no tears for Adam or the woman at the Fall of Man.

As the health and functional ability of our body declines, the list of the things that we can no longer do gets longer, but such changes are a part of the individual plan that God has in mind. In some cases, the list of the things that we want to do is shortened to make room and to provide us with the opportunity to embrace the plan of God, before the window of opportunity closes, and we go home to be with the Lord.

Like any godly parent, God our Father wants His children to have the best possible future, not just during their brief time here on Earth, but for all of eternity to come.

For born-again believers (5), the issue of salvation (going to Heaven) has already been permanently settled, but the choice to prioritize God and His plan over our own is a daily choice we have to make, as we set our daily priorities and activities accordingly.

At the end of each day, we have either lived for ourselves or have lived for God, but NOT both. The total days spent (or not spent) living for God is what defines the quality of a born-again believer’s post salvation spiritual life.

We choose to focus on what pleases us, or on what pleases God. What pleases God will often call for personal sacrifice, and the setting aside of the plans we had made for ourselves.

Of course there are secular things that must be done that consumes much of our time and resources. It is when we see and accomplish the spiritual purpose for being where we are as we go about our daily activities at home, work, school, recreation, and social activities, that His plan for us as individuals becomes obvious to the advancing disciple.

As advancing disciples, we will find ourselves doing much of the same activities as everyone else, but for the primary purpose of being there to serve as Christ’s ambassador! This is what makes us different. This difference is what draws inquirers, giving advancing disciples the opportunity to evangelize or to edify others.

“…always being ready (prepared) to make a defense to EVERYONE WHO ASKS YOU to give an account (explanation) for the hope (they can see) that is in you, but (doing so) with gentleness and respect (1Pet. 3: 15 NASB2020 parentheses mine).”

Dealing with these bodies of ours can be a major distraction! If you have not yet begun to deal with the aging process, consider the teaching of Eccl. 12: 1, 3-5 and be prepared, BEFORE some of your dreams are replaced with disturbing daydreams and nightmares.

“Remember (keep in mind) your Creator in the days of your youth. BEFORE the evil days come and the years approach you when you WILL say, “I have no pleasure in them (Eccl. 12: 1 NASB2020 parentheses mine.”

“On that day (when) the watchman of the house tremble (fear of your safety), and (what were) strong men are bent over, the grinders (teeth) stop working because they are few, and those who look through windows (eyes with cataracts/floaters/etc.) are dim, and the doors (access to activities outside of the house) are shut, and the sound of the grinding mill (secular activities) are low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird (reduced sleep) and all the daughters of song will sing softly (hard of hearing). Furthermore, people are afraid of a high place (fear of falling) and terrors (fear of safety) on the road; the almond tree blossoms (natural pleasures of life goes on for others), but for us who have become like the grasshopper (that) drags itself along, and the caper berry (an aphrodisiac) is ineffective (Eccl. 12: 3-5 NASB2020 parentheses mine).”

In you’re already there, take comfort knowing that there IS a time coming when we WILL be relieved of all of the aches, pains, limitations, and challenges that life in these natural bodies brings to us, when we leave these bodies behind and go home to be with the Lord.

The sweetest dreams are the ones that eventually come true.

(1) Luke 4: 6 (2) Proverb 16:18 (3) Luke 4: 6 (4) Mark 4: 19 (5) Rom. 8: 1

End of Part Three

End of Series

Author ‘s note: The dream in this presentation in Part 1 was composed by using the first-person fictional format and was not the personal experience of the author.