Deflection

Today it is raining and I’m in Lake George enjoying a few days of rest & relaxation. Not an outdoor kind of day. I’m reclining and watching a TV program about a magician that performs tricks in the midst of everyday activities. You can find him in a grocery store or out in the street, behind any ordinary store counter drawing the crowd in.

As I watched this program the magic trick is not as intriguing to me as the language that the magician is using. As he performs “mind blowing” acts the victims are left baffled.

You can hear them saying, “that’s not possible”, “that defies physics”, “I can’t believe my eyes”, “my mind is so confused” and on and on it goes.

The magician begins to deflect the questions and continues to focus on the results of his trick. He bends the conversation to where he wants it to go. Now the victim is lured in even more. They begin to dialogue with him and concur that the effects of this act are amazing!

Against all that they know is right, their eyes trick them, their senses are confused, their hearing is deceived, and their minds are convinced that what is happening must be true!

The first deception was in the Garden. Disobedience was exercised, and the beauty of life was tainted.

Today, the enemy of our soul continues to twist daily interactions and conversation to reach his own end. The end he desires is to separate us from our God; to dilute our effects as Christians. 

What if we asked the right questions and began to filter daily activities and encounters through the Word of God? What if we tested all that our eyes saw and all that our ears heard against God’s Holy Book?  What if every thought was taken captive and brought to the Lord?

The enemy enters the Garden and says, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the Garden’?”

“The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”  “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:2-5)

So here the trickster repackaged God’s words and Eve listened. The deception was so quick that she adds to the dialogue and says, “and you must not touch it, or you will die.” And die they did. Amazing!!

If the victims of the TV show would carefully investigate and not allow themselves to remain in a state of confusion, they  might begin to reason that something else is going on. Perhaps a magic trick! But a trick nevertheless.

The magician takes a pizza topped with vegetables and meat, closes the box and places it on a chair and gives it a few spins? The vegetables and meat toppings are perfectly separated each occupying one-half of the pie. The laws of physics shout, “no way!” The victims say, “incredible” and walk away amazed at what they just saw and now believe.

At the end the magician announces they are on a TV Show known as the Carbonaro Effect and the victims begins to laugh. Some are just embarrassed that they “fell for it”.

Well, Eve did “fall for it.” Adam you know the Lord very well. You walked and talked with him in the Garden? What happened?

We all know that Sin entered the world and its effects have laced us all.

Before we point the finger and say, “fool” we must check ourselves.

The Word of God must be our guide and filter. Our enemy is clever and knows how to twist the Word of God!

” Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them.” (Deuteronomy 11:16)

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!” (Galatians 1:6-8)

“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.” (Ephesians 5:6)

“He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.” (Luke 21:8)

God bless you!~Liz

Show Mercy?

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:36 )

Here we go again, Mercy: not getting what we deserve.

Why is it that when mercy is dispensed we often don't know what to do?

We are so used to getting blamed, ridiculed, chastised and punished that when we experience mercy we are in a state of shock or better said, awe!

The world expects us to pay for our mistakes. The law requires payment.

On Saturday morning I went out to eat breakfast with some of my friends. On my way home I stopped at the supermarket to pick up my groceries. I am almost home and stopped at a red light.

Two cars in front of me was a vehicle just a little past the light signal so that they could not see when the light turned green. Once the light changed I honked a friendly beep to let them know the light changed and it was time to move. As we are all at a full stop the car behind me must have seen the light turn green as well. He doesn't honk but pressed on the gas pedal and you guessed it, KABOOM! I was rear ended, felt quite the impact in my seat.

The world demands retribution!

Sin speaks death over our lives.

The world shouts and says, "look out for Number One"; ourselves!

God arrives and demonstrates Grace and Mercy and turns the world upside down.

I put my car on park and walked around to the rear of my vehicle. The other driver got out as well while the other cars just passed around us.

The driver began to rub his hand over the bumper of my car possibly wondering, "what did I do"? We are now on the side of the road with onlookers passing by.

I watched him, this man was probably afraid and concerned of the retribution.

It took only seconds and I felt myself extending my hand to him. I caught him of guard and he did not know what to do. I re-extended my hand and he shook my hand. I told him, "God bless you" and began to walk away. He did not know what to do. For the first time in those few minutes he began to speak. He said, "thank you, thank you". As I was walking toward my door I could still hear him, "thank you, thank you". He did not explain why he hit me. He did not say it was a mistake or his fault. He embraced mercy!

I drove away with a nail punctured hole on the rear of my vehicle and scratch remnants to prove of the impact.

People expect retribution and punishment.

As a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, I too stood astound, shocked, and in a state of awe that at the cross Jesus would pay for my sins. His hands pierced with nails for my wrongdoing. I deserved punishment but instead he gave me mercy and grace and paid the debt I owed.

Yes, I look to Jesus and say, "thank you, thank you". I am forever grateful and I am reminded to pour out my heart of thanksgiving in worship. Thank you, thank you Lord!

So walking away with a chipped bumper is not that big of a deal. All I have belongs to Jesus. It's Jesus' car that was hit and he said walk away and bless him with mercy. Mercy is what I gave because mercy is what I received.

God bless you!~Liz