Sometimes From the Mountain to the Pit

Tonight is Thanksgiving Eve, November 27, 2024, and my heart has been through the wringer because we are as Jesus said, "sent forth as sheep among wolves." I just read that in Matthew 10, after I got a dose of the mountain and the pit immediately following. "Behold,I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16). This verse alone explains a lot. Further down he talks about how our enemies will be those of our own household (verse 36). I guess that is true for many Christians. It stings, but Jesus said it would happen. You may have heard how you can have a mountain top experience and then one of Satan's strategies is to pull you down into a dark valley immediately following. Well, that's what happened to me this evening. The mountain top experience was going to see "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" movie this afternoon. It was pure delight. I had read the book twice and seen the made for TV version of the original film (1983) several times, actually. I didn't think it could be outdone, but I think they did it on this one. On principle, I usually don't like when they add a lot of dialogue or add elements to the story that were not in the book, but in this case, I think they did a masterful job. I had to repent of my smug attitude about it. They even had some smug people in the film, that you got to see God change their hearts. The story is about the "worst kids in the history of the world," the Herdmans, six very bad kids, taking over the annual Christmas Pageant. I don't want to spoil the film for you, and I'm not writing a review of the film. I am only going to recommend it to you. Please don't miss it. It is quite an experience. Lots of laughter and the appropriate amount of tears might result for you. There is one point in the original film where I cried, but in this one, there was more than one, and sobbing almost broke out right in that seat. I was affected in a way that is hard to describe. Then the other thing happened, which I will also not describe, just to say that it was a downer, and I am needing the Lord to mend me at this point. I feel like I'm failing at my decision to write for an hour every day. I set the timer for 30 minutes because I wanted to read a little before going to bed and I've been busy all day. My books I ordered at Barnes and Noble came in, so I had to go pick them up. Then I had to choose a couple more books so the kids I was buying for could have four each. Then I had to wrap them up and the presents for the other people and try to get them into the box I was trying to fit everything in. I was going to take them over to the UPS store to ship them until my friend called and told me we could go to the movie now, after all,so I dropped everything and met her over at the theatre. All I'm going to say is that we are entering some rough water and will need to be prepared, as prepared as we can be and vigilant and strong because the enemy is ticked. You know how he is the "accuser of the brethren." And "our enemies are not flesh and blood but powers and principalities and rulers of the darkness of this world." Remember that because you will need it. We are not in ordinary times, and we are not going to make it with "church as usual." As we go into the holiday season, that is, the Christmas season, stay close to Jesus and renew your mind daily, because the enemy is prowling around, as the word says, seeking whom he may devour. I am not going to look up the Scripture references for all these; they are coming to me as I write this, and that's how God helps us fight our battles in the Spirit. The word is our armor. "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickewdness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:11-12). We can't do this without or spiritual armor, and the devil is the "accuser of the brethren." That's in Revelation 12:10. "Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, 'Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdon of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down" (Rev.12:10). Well, he's not cast down yet, but we know that he will be, and he knows that he will be, and he is going to come at us from every side as long as he is able to run to and fro,"seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). The devil is "as a roaring lion," but he is NOT a roaring lion, he is only a toothless nag. "Be sober, be vigilant," the Word says. Jesus is on the move. "Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord" (Exodus 14:13) also comes to mind. He is able to keep us from falling. The enemy is defeated and JESUS is LORD! One final thought. You know there have never been "ordinary" times, only preparatory times, for "such a time as this." Peace and joy from the Lord Jesus. Goodnight and Happy Thanksgiving!