The enemy will come against you to try and change where your treasure is, so that it will change where your heart is. If he can appeal to your point of need, or your pride, or your covenant with God, then he can secure a foothold. It is that foothold which he will exploit to drive a wedge further between you and God. These temptations are far easier for him to accomplish when we find ourselves alone and vulnerable. How can we be sure of this? Because the bible tells us so:
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12
We need each other for a better return for our efforts in this life. We need each other so we can pick each other up. We need each other for warmth in a cold world. We need each other so that we can stand and defend ourselves. It is the enemy that seeks to weaken our efforts, keep us falling down, deprive us of the warmth God intended for us and to be defenseless. It is dividing and conquering and sometimes we can allow it too easily.
Psalm 25 shows us that even King David suffered from loneliness. He refers to it as a "snare" around his feet. Isn't that a perfect picture of loneliness? It is very much like a trap that is secured around our feet, preventing any real freedom. That is the lie the world sells. The actual "freedom" of being alone becomes a snare around our feet. But David lets us know to who we need to look to for a release from this snare. His eyes are EVER on the Lord for only He can release the snare of loneliness. When Jesus faced all three temptations it was God that enabled Him to secure the victory. Each time the enemy tempted Him, Jesus responded with, "It is written" because it is the word of God that defeats the enemy. It is the word of God that breaks the snare. We cannot do it under our own power.
If we ask God to turn to us and be gracious, He will. Do not listen to the whispering of the enemy when you are facing your times of loneliness; when you are in your desert. His scheme is to try and drive that wedge between you and God; to separate you. We must turn to God and hide His word in our hearts, so that we can speak His word into our lives. This is what God Almighty says about separation:
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8: 38-39
Be convinced today beloved. With love like that, we are never truly alone. Celebrate the plan of God and know the scheme of the enemy.
Anthony Wade August 6, 2008
