Years ago, when older people wanted to encourage kids to take a risk and try something new, they would say, “Give it a try! It can’t kill you!” The idea behind the phrase was that even if the youngster failed, there wouldn’t be any great consequence to deal with. In many areas of our lives, that advice is good. So often we miss out on great opportunities because we are afraid to take the risk of trying something and failing.
On the other hand, there are some things we might like to try but know are seriously dangerous, so we stay away from them. The stakes are too high if we fail. In the final paragraphs of his first letter to early Christians in Turkey, the Apostle Peter warns his readers about what is at stake if they let down their guard in resisting Satan. With graphic language Peter describes the devil as a vicious, hungry lion just waiting to devour the spiritual life of a person.
For some, the concept of a super powerful malignant force interacting in human history seems ludicrous. But what else satisfactorily explains the ongoing, ever-present struggle between good and evil which is the history of the human race? How can we even define “good” and “evil” if there are no such things as God and Satan? There needs to be some standard greater than human beings by which we can make such judgments.
When it comes to your life, what’s at stake is eternity. It’s not “one and done” for people. It’s “one and forever”. If you feel a bit unnerved by the idea that there is an extremely potent wickedness trying to lure you away from God for eternity, join us for one of our weekend worship services. The best news of the Bible is, you don’t have to be afraid.
Weekend worship service times: Saturday: 6:00 pm – Sunday: 10:00 am
