On a 34-degree sunny winter morning a few weeks ago, I couldn’t resist the urge to go for a jog! As I passed many familiar homes and neighboring streets, I noticed a house that was covered with Halloween décor, though at the time it was almost the end of December! As I looked closer, I spotted a “sigil of Baphomet” (Satanist star) flag that said “Blessed” amidst the disheveled front yard. To be candid, I felt a twinge of fear and shock run through my body. Instantly I began to pray over that place as I continued my run, for any children and adults who live there, and for the surrounding neighbors. My concern was sincere and justifiable; Satan IS real, and His lies and schemes are all around us.
Even so, then it clicked: lost is lost. It’s black and white, one or the other, no wiggle room. Though my apprehension was provoked by a very visual reminder of an apparent Satanist cult flag, we are all lost if we are not under the blood of Christ. Again, lost is LOST. I can fool myself into thinking I’m a pretty good person, try my best most days, fail on some, but all in all believe that I’m not terrible. Yet, God says our best attempts are still sinful and we are desperately LOST without His forgiveness. It’s a free gift He offers because Jesus died in our place, conquering sin and the grave!
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. ~1 Peter 5:8-9
The reality is that the lady next door who treats you kindly but has no solid faith AND the Satanist who directly opposes Jesus and God are BOTH LOST. This year may we see others with clarity and compassion as Jesus does: LOST or FOUND. There are people we need to get to know in order to find out which category they fall into. Which are you?
Jesus, not everyone who reads these words knows you as their personal Savior. Some may believe in You but not truly make You their priority. Others here may be completely on the outside peering in at Christians, unaware of the truth they have yet to embrace as their own. I pray that more people around me would be FOUND this year, in 2025! USE my life as an instrument to shine YOU, the ONLY ONE worth living for!
27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” Hebrews 9:27-28
Take heart, my friends! If God is FOR YOU, who can be against you? (Romans 8:31) The devil has already been defeated! If you’re a Christ follower, you are on the winning team and can live victoriously! Let us be ones who SHARE and proclaim this good news to ALL in love and truth this year. Listen to the song below and be amazed at the LOVE of OUR God towards YOU, dear one. The passion of these musicians is so touching as they simply praise God for His love, our salvation. Amen and Godspeed!