Luke 8:11-12 (NIV) “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts…”
Jesus said there is someone called the deceiver who comes to steal the word of God from the heart of a person. I hear it now. “Ok Pastor Bob, now you have stepped over the line. Talking about a real devil is just not what reasonable people do.” However, I believe if you are reasonably honest, you would have to look at our world and say someone is at work to destroy things… child pornography, murders on the border!! Interpersonal relationships have exploded in unprecedented shootings in workplaces and on school campuses. Marriages are failing and families are disintegrating. People shoot each other for parking places!!! The cruelties we see in our local crimes seem to be other-worldly.
Great thinkers over the centuries have believed in a real devil. One of the most intelligent was the great physicists Isaac Newton, who was certainly smarter than anyone we have ever known. He believed the Bible was the word of God and believed in a real personal devil. Dr. C. S. Lewis, who taught at Oxford University and was an avowed atheist for many years, became converted and published many books on Christianity. One book written by him was on the deceptive powers of Satan, called The Screwtape Letters. He and others through the ages have declared the reality of Satan, and we ourselves have to admit to his working in our world.
Jesus Christ said if you don’t understand the parable of the sower and the seed, which includes the reality of the devil, nothing else will make sense. Jesus said the devil has the ability to influence your thinking. He can steal the word of God from you. Like he did with Adam and Eve, he tells you that what God has said is not really true. That in fact God is trying to keep you from having a good life. The devil tried to persuade Jesus from going to the cross, telling Jesus he could give the entire world to him if Jesus would only bow down and worship him.
Satan’s battleground and playground is the mind.
2 Cor. 4:4 in whose case the god of this world(Satan) has blinded the minds of the unbelieving…
All destructive behavior starts with a thought. Addiction starts with a thought. Suicide starts with a thought. Adultery starts with a thought. Divorce starts with a thought. ”She’s about 50 now, so I think I’ll trade her in for two 25 year olds.” It happens all the time. . Hatred, envy, it all starts with a thought and that is why it is so important to “guard your mind.” Your mind is not the devil’s garbage can. Don’t let him just come and dump what ever thought he wants into your brain. The prophet Isaiah exhorted Israel to reject evil thoughts.
Isaiah 55:7 (NASB) Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
Your thoughts will make or break you. The admonition of scripture is this:
Philip. 4:8 (NASB) Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.
Resisting those evil thoughts and embracing God’s way of thinking is a key to the well-being of yourself and your family.