Gum

             “Congratulations.”  We both beamed for a moment. “And who is the president?”

                 “Oh, well, I guess that worked for him.”

              I found out later that he also came to school in a coat and tie and gave out  “vote for me” business cards. Kudos to Jim for his enthusiasm and innovative ideas.

             But, isn’t that how our Christian lives work, too, to some extent? Our enemy always comes around in a suit and tie (or at least not the usual or obvious “enemy” clothes) and gives us gum to get us to go his way. I know that sounds terribly simplistic, and to merely suggest that we could be taken in in such a way may be offensive. However, as the Bible puts it (Eccles. 1:9), “There is nothing new under the sun”, and however mature and sophisticated we think we are in our Christian walk, the truth is that our enemy, the devil can, and often does put on that great façade, talk big talk, and give us gum to do his bidding. Oh, you know that it is not literally real Wrigley’s chewing gum, but he passes out  “treats”, whether it be treats to tickle our ears, bolster our pride, momentarily satisfy our emotional or physical needs, lift our spirits (only to crash them in the end), gratify our desires, increase our standing in the world, make us think we know more than we do, or can do more than we really can… the list of his “gum to entice us is endless. The sad part of it is that, like Eve, we so often fall for the lie, take the gum, and vote for Satan.

             In the book of Ephesians, we find information on how to meet the devil, who is our worst enemy, head on, and reject his schemes. Paul gives us directions in verses 10-18 of Chapter 6. There are 4 things we need to be vigilant about doing. First, we need to be strong in the Lord (v. 10). This one little phrase packs a big punch. It involves every part of our life…all the time. It is a 24/7 job that needs to permeate our very being. To be strong in the Lord, we need to read and study the Bible. Just like eating food. We can’t be strong on a little tidbit of food here and there. We need to have substantial nutrition, and plenty of it. The same is true with Bible reading and study. We can only be strong in the Lord when we delve into His word and develop deep and revealed understanding of His will and His ways. Another part of being strong in the Lord is praying and listening to the Holy Spirit, daily and continually. That will involve slowing down enough to actually collect our thoughts and speak to God. It will mean being quiet enough to listen for and hear His still small voice. Ooo, that hurts, but it is part of being strong in the Lord.

             The second thing mentioned is to put on the full armor of God (v. 11). We must not leave any piece of armor off. We have to put it all on, no matter how bulky we think it seems. There is no piece that is unnecessary. Put on the armor. (See v.14-17 for armor details).

             In meeting our enemy, the third thing to do is to resist him, or stand against him (v.11). If we don’t resist, we will fall every time, but if we do resist, he will flee (James 4:7). That is a promise. We have to be strong enough and willing to take the risk of denying ourselves, the risk of perhaps being unpopular or even ridiculed in taking our stand against evil, and just saying no. When we resist even a little, when our heart’s determination is set on resisting the schemes of the devil and we take that first step, our Lord is quick to rush to our side and help in the fight. Resist.

             Our instructions continue, and encourage us to stand firm. When we take a stand, we always stand against something and for something. In this instance, we are called on to stand against the devil and evil, and for God and His promises. We stand firm in God and His promises. His promise is to be with us and to crush Satan under our feet, and to defeat our enemies. We stand firm in truth, in rightness. We tell the gospel of peace. We stand firm in our faith in our awesome God and the salvation His Son’s death secured for us, and in the Word of God.

             And all of this is wrapped up in and made possible by an attitude and lifestyle of prayer. We can only be successful in our resistance to evil schemes by praying at all times (v.18). The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16). It must be a lifestyle that we practice continually and constantly. You and I know that we don’t have to be in any particular place or position to pray. It is simply an ongoing conversation with our Lord. It can be going on anywhere. You and I can be praying, and no one else even know that we are doing it. Prayer does not have to be lengthy or fancy, or in any particular style of language. It just needs to be an integral part of the Christian’s existence. When we pray at all times, for ourselves and others, we are making a huge impact in the world of darkness that we are traveling through, bringing light and life to it, just as our Lord Jesus did when He traveled this way. And that is what we are to be about.

             So, the next time we see suave looking, gum offering, to- good–to- be- true offers, we can recognize the source, meet it head on and come through in total and powerful victory, shining as lights in our world.