Thursday, January 2, 2014

Garbologist at Work!

"...in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes" (2 Corinthians 2:11)

I am indebted for the idea behind this devotional thought to a waste collection agency, one of its trucks anyway, behind which we found ourselves this morning and upon whose rear portion we saw proudly displayed the sign: GARBOLOGIST AT WORK!  Garbologist!  Don't you just love that term?  What an intriguing title for the critical and beneficial work of garbage removal and disposal!

Even as I commented to my wife and chuckled about that sign as we passed the truck, the thought immediately occurred to me that there is a "garbologist" at work in the world today and that there is absolutely nothing "beneficial" about his activities.  I hereby officially bestow upon Satan, the enemy of all mankind, the title of "Garbologist"!  All that he plans and all that he carries out is nothing but sheer spiritual garbage in the lives of people.  His primary goal is now and always has been to keep people away from the grace and mercy and love of God.  Know this for a certainty, beloved, that Satan stands opposed to everything that God by His grace is doing in the world today.  If that fact does not earn for him the title of "Garbologist," then I do not know what does!

The Apostle Paul in his second recorded letter to the church in Corinth gives to us a wonderful word of encouragement and source of hope in our daily dealings with the enemy of our souls.  He first promises that there is no need for any "advantage (to) be taken of us by Satan."  In other words, we do not have to find ourselves covered by the spiritual garbage that he seeks to heap up in our lives.  We do not have to fall prey to his schemes or become victims of his lies.  And the reason is simply, as Paul put it so well, that "we are not ignorant of his schemes."  That is one of the most glorious promises in all of the New Testament concerning the potential victory of the child of God!  The apostle told the Corinthian believers that we as followers of Jesus Christ are "not ignorant" of how the enemy works today.  We not only know from personal life experience, but we know because the Word of God instructs us in how to deal with him and how to have victory over him.  This same Paul exhorted the saints in Ephesus to "put on the full armor of God" in facing each new day.

"Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil" (Ephesians 6:11)

So there is no reason, beloved, especially as we face the onset of a brand new year, for any of us to fall prey to the "garbage" that Satan loves to sling: thoughts that are misaligned with the truth of God, actions that are not in keeping with what He requires of us, attitudes that are not glorifying to Him or edifying to one another, a lifestyle that is not redemptive because it does not point the way to the cross of Calvary.

May this New Year be for you one of complete and total victory over Satan and one of glorifying Jesus Christ in all that you say and do.  And remember, always keep your eyes and ears open!  There is ever nearby a garbologist at work!

Ron