It is so easy to get sidetracked. When I was kid our family would drive to Florida from Houston on our yearly family vacation. My dad and I were in the front and my sister and mom were in the back seat. We would drive hard for 2 days without even stopping for lunch. One year when the weather was nasty, my dad got sidetracked by following another car along I-10. He accidently missed a turn and ended up following that car all the way into the city of New Orleans which added several ours to our trip for that day.
I was recently reminded from the above quote from John MacArthur how Satan attempts to sidetrack Christians. It can becomes easier and easier for us to start heading the wrong way when we are tempted. Some of the ways that Satan sidetracks us spiritually include the following temptations.
First, Satan sidetracks us by making heaven less appealing. He does this by tempting us to pursue the love of money. The love of money makes us love this present world more and refocuses our desires away from heaven and more on earthly things. Paul encourages us to “Set [our] minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For [we] have died, and [our] life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:2-3). Satan love to sidetrack us with money to get us to wonder from the faith (1 Timothy 6:10)
Satan also sidetracks us by either making sin less offensive or hell less horrific. When we don’t think that the consequence for s
in is costly, we tend to pursue fleshly concerns. We are concern more with our comfort than with our relationship with Christ. Remember that, “For all that is in the world … is not from the Father, but is from the world” (1 john 2:16).
How should Christians get back on track? I believe it by making the Gospel urgent in our lives. Gospel urgency combats laziness about sharing the Gospel, as well as resistance to being an all-out disciple or follower of Jesus Christ.
Are you being sidetracked spiritual by Satan? Your solution is to make the Gospel the center of your life? Remember Jesus said, “And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:38)