The Kitchen Sink

Too many people think that once they become a Christian life will be nothing but rainbows and puppy dogs from then on. What one discovers is quite the opposite. Things often get harder. Why? Well, what is the final destination for non-believers? Hell. Without Jesus we are doomed. When we did not believe, we too were ultimately headed there. Since we were already on the highway to hell, Satan had no reason to focus any attention on us. We would be seeing him soon anyway. However, once we believe in Jesus, we are now headed for heaven. Satan is losing a tenant. As a result, he now focuses a lot of attention on us. In fact, he throws everything including the kitchen sink at us in an all-out effort for us to reject our newfound faith and return to our old way of life.

Jesus was no different. We know Jesus’ story. Born in Bethlehem. Wrapped in swaddling cloths and placed in a manger. Satan tries to get Him by sending Herod’s soldiers to kill Him, but God warns Joseph and Mary to flee to Egypt. From the time they return to Nazareth until Jesus is thirty-years old, we read of no other attempts on Jesus’ life.

Suddenly, however, right after He is baptized by John in the Jordan River, the Bible tells us that Jesus is led into the wilderness where He is tempted by the devil for forty days and forty nights. Right after God says, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy” (Matthew 3:17). Right after Jesus begins His public ministry. That’s when Satan pounces.

While in the wilderness the devil first tempts Jesus to turn some stones to bread. Surely, Jesus could have done so. He is God. But Jesus replies, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4). Then Satan tempts Jesus to jump off the highest point of the Temple and count on the angels to save Him. Again, Jesus responds, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God’” (Matthew 4:7). A third time Satan tempts Jesus by promising to give Him all the kingdoms of the world if He will only kneel down and worship him. “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him’” (Matthew 4:10).

Jesus resists the devil’s temptations. However, did we notice how? Jesus doesn’t make up these answers here in the wilderness. No, all three of His answers are quotes from the Tanakh (the Old Testament). The book of Deuteronomy to be specific. Remember, Jesus has been fasting for forty days and nights. He is tired, hungry, and weak. That’s when Satan decides to attack and throw the kitchen sink at Him. That’s when the devil will attack us too. Not when we are strong and walking with the Lord. No, Satan will throw the kitchen sink at us when we are weak, doubting, struggling, questioning. How do we fight back? The same way Jesus did. Rely on the holy, inspired, infallible, inerrant Word of God. Paul refers to it this way, “…take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). Yes, pick up your sword (God’s Word) and battle the evil one.

Of course, this means we need to be familiar with the Word. So, perhaps we should all spend a little more time in it than we do now. All of us would be blessed with more time in God’s Word. Me too. We don’t have to read for an hour. A few minutes each day. Maybe listen to it using an app on your smartphone like YouVersion. Whatever. We just need to keep our sword sharp and ready to go to battle because, trust me, the devil will throw everything and the kitchen sink at us at points in our lives. We can resist, fight back, and overcome, even when we are weak, with the sword of the Spirit – the Word of God.  

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