1 Peter 1:1-2
To the pilgrims of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in Sanctification of the Spirit, for Obedience and the sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus Christ.
Question – Have you ever been in a situation where your hope is let down or perhaps you are persecuted for your faith in Christ. This recently happened to me. I have a long time friend that has turned his back on his supposed relationship with Christ and has been living in sin with a women for over 16 years now. He has completely turned his back on the Christ as revealed in scripture and is now worshiping a god of his own creation – a creation that is born out of humanism and reason – but NOT the Jesus as revealed in Scripture.
He and I got together to finally “have the talk” after 16 years of being apart – but it only erupted into me being told that I was in bondage to the Bible and that I am not worshiping the correct god! Kinda sound familiar to what I have read that satan would say to someone who is submitted the Jesus as Lord.
According to 1 Peter 1:1-2 I was elected by God to be more and more obedient to the Bible and the truth that is revealed there – and to learn more and more about submission to Jesus – which results in Sanctification and more “Christ likeness.”
But Sadly – like my friend – people put their hopes in relationships – jobs – money – pleasures – material things – only to find that they are on trembling ground.
(Barclay) “The citizens of ancient city of Philadelphia lived an unsettled and tremulous life. Whenever the earthquake tremors came, and they came often, the people of Philadelphia fled from the city out into the open country, to escape the falling masonry and the flying stones which accompanied a severe earthquake shock. Then, when the earth was quiet again, they returned. In their fear, the people of Philadelphia were always going out and coming in; they were always fleeing from the city and then returning to it.”
Satan loves to keep you coming back again and again to your “City” and sometime even performs miracles to keep you there. My friend – told me that he speaks into reality his life and it comes true. He told me that he needed 7 loads of dirt for a land scaping project – and it shows up due to some folks needing to offload some dirt from a construction site nearby.
Well… either the god he is worshipping is the true god – the god of humanism – or there is a power at work to keep my friend a slave to his City! Eph. 2:2 says ” who were once dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this work according to the prince of the power of the air; the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience… This person is in a 16 + years of an adulterous relationship. Could it be that my friend in influenced by a demon who keeps him submitted to the error of his ways? This demon is able to communicate to other demons – who then move to accomplish things to keep those who are caught in their sin – to remain deceived.
Satan is always wanting to impersonate God’s miracle of providence towards His children with miracles that are meant to keep the sinful – in their sin. I think of Moses and the miracle of turning the rod into a snake – and the magicians did the same.
Question – Does your “City” have earthquakes sometimes – and do we not flee from it only to return to it again in hopes that we can find that peace and rest?
My hope is that you and I will – for the rest of our days – only look to Jesus as my refuge and not something or someone else.