Sin will give the Devil an opportunity
revised 1/10/2024
I live in Tucson, AZ. At certain times during the year, the rattlesnakes are very active. One of the hard and fast rules is: don't leave, or even crack open your garage door, because the rattlesnakes will certainly mosey in and take up temporary residence. However, there are a few people in our neighborhood that are either risk takers, or crazy (depending on your frame of mind) and leave their garages open.
Did you know Ephesians 4:26-27 tells us when we sin, we open up a place or an opportunity in our lives, for the Devil to control us? "Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity." Before we are Christians, Ephesians 2 tells us we are living in Satan's kingdom, under his rule. Yet when we become Christians, by believing in Jesus Christ, we are transferred into God's kingdom. (Colossians 1:4, 13-14) And Satan doesn't have control over our lives anymore, unless we give it to him through our own sin. Why does sin enable Satan to control? 1 John 3:8 teaches us that sin originated with Satan, and it is his way of life. In other words, all the Devil does is disobey God. So when you sin, you are giving him an opportunity to control you again, through that sin. Ouch!
As Christians, we will sin because we still have our sinful nature, but we have a choice now. (Before salvation we didn't.) When you are tempted to sin, don't take that sin or any sin lightly; remember what sin does and what Jesus Christ had to do to take care of that sin! When the Holy Spirit is telling you through God's Word that something is sin, don't do it. If you have gone on and done the sin, then heaven sakes, confess it or agree with God about it (1 John 1:9), so Satan can't have an opportunity in your life. In other words, keep the garage door of your life shut to the the Serpent of old, the Devil, by not sinning.
Because of Jesus' death my sins are forgiven, Gini