We’re Caught in a Trap
If you are as old as this week’s blogger, you heard Elvis singing those exact words in your head – ‘We’re caught in a trap. I can’t walk out because I love you too much baby.’ That ear worm will make a home in your brain unless you replace it with an even catchier tune. But hang on to it for the moment because it is THE central theme of this blog today.
For EVERYONE (yes, even believers…) there are issues that develop difficulties that change into problems and mutate into hazards that dive into peril and transform into danger and before you can even develop a combat strategy to protect yourself, your heart is deceived, your reason is ambushed, and your soul is ensnared. You are truly caught in a trap. Whether it was an oubliette you jumped in just to see what was there or a covered pit you fell in because it was disguised as the yellow brick road you were following makes no difference. You are in one and faced with the challenge of how to get out of one.
The good thing about traps is that they are just puzzles to be solved. Every trap can be successfully navigated – it just needs to be identified for the solution to be revealed. And the most important thing for you to remember is that you have been deceived. Nobody sticks their leg into the bear trap willingly. Either you (yes, it is possible to lie to yourself), your culture, your society, your friends, your family, your media, your government (the list goes on and on) or the greatest spiritual enemy of humanity has lied to you and you bought it with all the extras.
Since this blog is predominantly for believers, disciples of Jesus Christ and those seeking Him, let’s talk about the traps that the prince of the air sets for us. (If you don’t know who he is, or don’t believe that he really exists, you are in a trap right now that requires prayer. Lots of prayer. Down on your face, crying out to God prayer and some serious revelation from the Holy Spirit…another subject for another blog.)
Let’s do a Top Five for the modern believer:
#5 The Bible-Centered Trap – the idea that knowing the scriptures equals salvation. John quotes Jesus in 5:39 "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me..." As a child of God, we must be Christ-centered. "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear" Mark 4:23. Jesus is the Savior.
#4 The Tradition Reverence Trap – the notion that the customs of culture, dogma of denomination and regulations of religion are equal to the words of Jesus Christ. If you are focused on the color of the altar cloths instead of the gospel message, you just might want to reevaluate where your devotion is centered. "...thus you cancel the word of God for the sake of your tradition," Matthew 15:6. Jesus is the Way.
#3 The Hear-But-Don't-Do Trap – the belief that simply hearing the message is enough effort on our part to have a meaningful relationship with God. If you hear yourself saying, ‘But I go to church EVERY Sunday!’ you just MIGHT need to check yourself. "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says" James 1:22 Jesus is the Truth.
#2 The Build a Better Christian Trap – the inspiration that we need to attend a conference, seminar, fillintheblank, to improve our ‘effectiveness’ as believers before you can tell the world about Jesus. Your personal testimony of how an extraordinary God changed your ordinary self is your greatest effectiveness! Remember that ‘when they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.’ Acts 4:13. My dear friends, ‘God's purpose is to conform you to the likeness of His Son’ Romans 8:29. Jesus is the Life.
#1 The Satisfied Trap – the confidence that we have ‘arrived’ and we are ‘woke’ to all things Jesus! If you don’t feel the need to pray continuously, meet with other believers regularly or rely solely on the spirit for your direction, you might just be pridefully satisfied in your OWN works. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" Matthew 5:6. Spiritual hunger is the beginning point of a work of God's Spirit. Ask the Lord to give you an appetite for knowing Him. Jesus Christ is all in all.
Whichever trap you’re in, the solution to the escape is all found in one place. His name is Jesus, the Christ, and he is standing at the door to whatever encloses you. Just call out His name. He is there to show you the way out. In His Service, always.
