In the Bible we see this tactic being used as early as Genesis 3. That’s where the enemy, disguised as a serpent, comes to Eve in the Garden and questions her about what God has said: “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” (Gen. 3:1)
Poor Eve. She should have recognized right away that this would be nothing but trouble and should have rejected this talking serpent’s advance. Instead, she answers back to the serpent that God has made this one tree off-limits. To violate this would mean death. And just like that, she is in big trouble.
The serpent recognizes that and jumps right in with “Ye shall not surely die. For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” (vv. 3-4)
The very next verse we see her lose everything: “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”
She gave her ear to the devil and rejected what her Creator had told her. You know the rest of the story.
The enemy hasn’t stopped using this tactic. In fact, he has perfected it over the years. He simply gets us to look anywhere other than where Jesus is and immediately we’re in trouble.
In Genesis 19 we see the angels coming to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of their great wickedness. Yet God in His mercy and in answer to Abraham’s prayer is rescuing Lot and his family from the judgment about to be poured out. In verse 17 we have one of the angels giving this warning: “Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.” (emphasis added)
Seems like a simple set of instructions, right? Well, apparently it wasn’t so simple for Lot’s wife. Whether it was out of curiosity or out of a longing for her home or whatever, we see in verse 26 that she violated the simple instructions: “But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.”
In one moment, her disobedience became her final act in this life. Why? Because God was harsh and vindictive? Absolutely not. It was because of her disobedience. Instead of keeping her eyes up into the hills where her salvation was she looked back to that which the Lord Himself had declared worthy of judgment.
In Luke 9:57-62 we find a man who wants to follow Jesus. He says, “I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.” (v. 57)
In verse 58 Jesus explains that this isn’t going to be an easy trip then in verse 59 Jesus says simply, “Follow me.” That’s what the man said he wanted to do, anywhere Jesus would go. But his immediate response wasn’t “Thank You, Lord. Let’s go.” Nope.
Instead, he says, “But, suffer me first to go and bury my father.” In other words, he was willing to go, but on his own terms and when he himself was ready.
In verse 61 we have one more man saying he would follow but he too had something he wanted to do first. This gave Jesus a perfect opportunity to teach another kingdom lesson. In verse 62 He replies: “No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (emphasis added)
Jesus knows the enemy will attempt to distract us from following Him. He does it by getting us to look anywhere other than where Jesus is.
The enemy will attempt to convince you:
- That the “grass is greener” on the other side of the fence
- That while Jesus’ way may work, we’re modern people and there are “better” ways to do things
- That your old life wasn’t so bad compared to others and that maybe some of those old habits will still be ok.
- That your desire to do more for God may lead you into areas that are displeasing to God
Fill in the blanks with some of the lies the enemy has tried to tell you over the years.
The reason the enemy tries so hard to distract us and why Jesus warns us about staying on the path is summed up by Jesus Himself in Matthew 6:19-21:
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Mat 6:19-21)
Keep your eyes on the prize and don’t look back!
Maranatha!