Fellow traveler, you may have heard of or witnessed a rescue operation. Perhaps you may have yourself conducted a rescue operation in the past. Disasters and numerous accidents are happening daily—floods, landslides, earthquakes, road accidents, etc.—and always call for rescue operations. We often hear about stories of people being abducted for a ransom, all around the world, and the rescue efforts to deliver these kidnapped persons. Usually, if not all the time, these victims have no hope to save themselves; if they do not call or cry for help, they will perish.
Our archenemy in this world is Satan. He holds most of the whole world captive and prepares it for the final destruction. The arch foe is leaving nothing undone to win all to his side, but only a few are standing against him. If he cannot do it through deception, then he will resort to violence to rid the world of this special sect of God’s.
James 1:14, 15 tells us of the process of how one enters onto the enemy’s ground and the final result. “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” Also 1 John 2:16 shows that the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life are the sources of all sin.
We need to understand that temptations are ignited from our own lusts of the flesh and when consented to, sin results. Satan knows our weak points and tries to direct his attacks on them. He works to arouse these lusts and unholy passions to lead us to transgress, and fall from the high standard of Christ’s righteousness—His law. It is therefore of crucial importance to put all these lusts and passions under the control of reason. The God of love has left none unguarded. Let us not serve the lusts of the flesh as before we had knowledge (1 Peter 1:14; Titus 3:3).
“He that ruleth his spirit [is greater] than he that taketh a city.” “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” Proverbs 16:32; 25:28
“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7) is His precious instruction. This is possible as we submit ourselves therefore to Him.
Yet men choose to enter the forbidden ground and thereby get tied up and remain in sin. Satan can only attract and entice, but can never force anyone into his snares. But when he succeeds in capturing his prey, he can never easily release that victim.
“The pleasures of sin are the cords with which Satan binds men in his snares.” –Maranatha, p. 82
Remember the prodigal son of Luke 15:11–32, how he “wasted his substance with riotous living” (v.13). Christ in that parable does not give the full details of the exact pleasures the young man engaged in. We all know what it is like. The single statement is enough to describe a life without God.
Some still console themselves by saying that they are as not great sinners as the prodigal son who journeyed into a far country. Such need to always remember the fall of Adam and Eve. They only ate the fruit which many consider as not such a big sin. But the results of it proved otherwise. By the eating of the fruit they opened the flood gates of sin which has grievously ruined our planet and caused the misery that terrorizes the world!
“To Eve it seemed a small thing to disobey God by tasting the fruit of the forbidden tree, and to tempt her husband also to transgress; but their sin opened the floodgates of woe upon the world. Who can know, in the moment of temptation, the terrible consequences that will result from one wrong step?” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 61
Regardless of its magnitude, sin must be called by its right name. A sin presumed small may have baleful results on one’s spiritual life. Through that sin, Satan can make inroads into the life; the soul is led to great lengths into sin, until it is total darkness in the soul.
“Even one wrong trait of character, one sinful desire, persistently cherished, will eventually neutralize all the power of the gospel. Every sinful indulgence strengthens the soul’s aversion to God.” –Steps to Christ, p. 34
“The prevalence of a sinful desire shows the delusion of the soul. Every indulgence of that desire strengthens the soul’s aversion to God. In following the path of Satan’s choosing, we are encompassed by the shadows of evil, and every step leads into deeper darkness and increases the blindness of the heart.
“The same law obtains in the spiritual as in the natural world. He who abides in darkness will at last lose the power of vision. He is shut in by a deeper than midnight blackness; and to him the brightest noontide can bring no light. He ‘walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.’ 1 John 2:11. Through persistently cherishing evil, willfully disregarding the pleadings of divine love, the sinner loses the love for good, the desire for God, the very capacity to receive the light of heaven. The invitation of mercy is still full of love, the light is shining as brightly as when it first dawned upon his soul; but the voice falls on deaf ears, the light on blinded eyes.” –Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 92.
We need to keep on guard that we serve not and make no “provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” Rom.13:14. We need not yield even in one step to the devil. Fellow traveler, now in whatever condition Satan may have drawn you to, perhaps deeper into the abyss of sin, you need to come back. It is no longer time to play with sin! You have eaten enough of the husks! The appeal is, please sincerely call and cry for a rescue operation. Be set free and enjoy the joy of being with the Father.
Peter cried for a rescue operation when he was drowning in the sea, and it was immediately conducted by the loving Lord. “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him. ” Matt. 14:30–31
“I was shown that Satan can not control minds unless they are yielded to his control. Those who depart from the right are in serious danger now. They separate themselves from God and from the watch-care of the angels of God, and Satan, ever upon the watch to destroy souls begins to present to such his deceptions and they are in the utmost peril. If they see and try to resist the powers of darkness and free themselves from Satan’s snare, it is not an easy matter. They have ventured on Satan’s ground and he claims them. . . .
“Those who have tempted the devil to tempt them will have to make desperate efforts to free themselves from his power. When they begin to work for themselves, then angels of God whom they have grieved will come to their rescue. Satan and his angels are unwilling to lose their prey. They contend and battle with the holy angels, and the conflict is severe. And if those who have erred continue to plead, and in deep humility confess their wrongs, angels who excel in strength will prevail and wrench them from the power of the evil angels.” –Messages to Young People, p.60
“Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? ‘But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.” Isaiah 49:25
“No soul is ever finally deserted of God, given up to his own ways, so long as there is any hope of his salvation. ‘Man turns from God, not God from him.’ Our heavenly Father follows us with appeals and warnings and assurances of compassion, until further opportunities and privileges would be wholly in vain. The responsibility rests with the sinner. By resisting the Spirit of God today, he prepares the way for a second resistance of light when it comes with mightier power. Thus he passes on from one stage of resistance to another, until at last the light will fail to impress, and he will cease to respond in any measure to the Spirit of God. Then even ‘the light that is in thee’ has become darkness. The very truth we do know has become so perverted as to increase the blindness of the soul.” –Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 93
“Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.” Joel 3:9–10
“I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.” Psalms 40:1-3
About two years ago I conducted a rescue operation. A man had tied a net between two trees in a small forest close to our house to trap any bird that passed that spot. I was sitting on the veranda of our house when I heard the flapping of a bird’s wings—it was caught and struggled for its life. It was a really beautiful and big bird. Immediately, I rose on my feet and rushed to the scene, setting the poor bird free. I released it into the air, and it swiftly flew and disappeared in happiness, as I left the spot for my house. It was a wonderful act that left me satisfied, but more importantly, how was it to the bird upon being freed like that?
Dear fellow traveler, our Father in heaven loves us so much. He desires that every one of us be saved. (1 Timothy 2:4) He gave up His Son to an ignominious death for our sake. Today, He is ready to conduct a rescue operation and free us from the power of sin, if only we call upon Him. Soon Jesus will present them faultless before the presence of His glory—those that have been washed by His blood and sanctified by His truth. May the Lord grant that we be part of that group and sing the song of victory. AMEN.
Joel Msiska