Section 3: Second Device

Satan’s Devices to Keep Souls from Holy Duties,

To Hinder Souls in Holy Services,

& to Keep Them Off from Religious Performances

Second Device: Satan will present all of the dangers, losses and sufferings that accompany the performance of these services.  In this way he has kept many who would have believed in Christ from confessing him.  This is what we see in John 12:42, “Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue.” 

First Remedy – Consider that all the afflictions and troubles you meet in the way of righteousness can never truly harm you.  Remember the words of Peter, “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? (1 Peter 3:13).  All the troubles that come to men in the way of righteousness can never rob them of their treasure.  The treasures of the saints are the presence of God, union and communion with God, the pardon of sin, the joy of the Spirit, the peace of conscience, which are jewels that Christ alone can give and none but Christ can take away.  A believer’s treasure is always safe in the hands of Christ; his life is safe, his soul is safe and his crown is safe. “…But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me” (2 Timothy 1:12). 

Second Remedy – Consider the saints who have gone before who have persevered in their service despite the difficulties that surrounded them.  Nehemiah and Ezra were surrounded by dangers and opposition, and yet, in the face of it all, they kept on building the Temple and the wall of Jerusalem.  Daniel and his friends, without any support and encouragement from countrymen of friends and in the face of many temptations and discouragements remained faithful to God in the palaces of Babylon. Though afflictions and imprisonments accompanied Paul and the other apostles, they persevered in their work and service to the Lord.  Why then, should we not take encouragement from such examples and carry on in our duties before God. 

Third Remedy – Consider that the dangers and troubles that hinder your service are only temporary, but the neglect of these duties can lay you open to spiritual and eternal danger.  “How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard,” (Hebrews 2:3).  Following Christ may bring about the frowns of men, but neglecting to follow Him opens one up to the frowns of God.  Remember that there is no one who will not suffer more by neglecting the ways of God than he will suffer by doing them.  Heavenly duties may cause you to lose earthly possessions but neglecting them can cause you to lose God, Christ, heaven and your soul forever.  

Fourth Remedy – Remember that God sometimes delivers us from greater trouble through lesser troubles.  There once was a godly man who broke his leg on the way to the airport who missed his flight that was taking him to speak at a conference, but the plane he would have been on crashed.  God spared his life through the lesser affliction.  Sometimes God places us in a situation that makes us heartsick but it is in order that we may be made perfect.  He purges from us those actions and attitudes that would rob us of Godliness. 

 

Fifth Remedy – Consider that you will gain more through service to God than you could ever possibly lose or suffer by being found in His service. Diligent saints will discover that religious service is not mere empty formality but rather those things in which God is pleased to reveal His beauty and glory to their souls.  David says, “So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory,” (Psalm 63:2). The saints can say in all their afflictions that they have meat to eat and drink to drink that the world does not know.  In their service they receive such reward and refreshing that they would not exchange them for all the riches and honors of this world.  Let a Christian compare his temporal losses with his spiritual and eternal gain and he will find that for every penny he loses in his service he will gain a dollar!  We may lose peace with the creature but we will find it with the Creator.  In exchange for “slight momentary afflictions,” they receive an eternal weight of glory beyond comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:17).