Let’s say that tomorrow you get a phone call from heaven.  Gabriel is on the line and says that you have been selected to spend a day with Jesus.  It’s going to happen the following Wednesday and you can plan how the two of you will spend your time together. Later, you begin working on the schedule for that special day and it looks something like this:

7:00 AM / Get up, shower, dress

8:00 AM / Leave home for the meeting

8:30 AM / Arrive at airport to meet Jesus

9:00 AM / Depart with the Lord for coffee shop and breakfast

10:00 AM / Leave restaurant for church and meeting with pastor

11:30 AM / Leave church for restaurant and lunch with Jesus

1:00 PM / Express gratitude for the visit, apologize for departure

1:15 PM / Off to important business meeting

I realize that this may sound a bit far-fetched, but isn’t this similar to the way we treat our Lord even now?  I have often thought about the disciples and how precious the time was that they spent with Jesus. For three years they walked, talked, ate, slept around, and were taught by God in the flesh. On at least four occasions Jesus sat them down, looked into their eyes and said – (paraphrased) “OK guys, get this. I’m going to Jerusalem. I will be arrested, tried, convicted and killed. But it’s okay, because I’m going to rise again on the third day.” (Matthew 16:21)

As we fast-forward to crucifixion, does it appear that any of disciples remembered the words of Jesus? Absolutely not! They had spent all of this time with him and yet …

THEY MISSED THE ENTIRE PURPOSE OF THE CROSS!

Now comes the moment when we ask ourselves, “Are we missing the obvious?” Is Jesus screaming at us through His precious word, His creation, and countless events and circumstances that he is orchestrating around us while we are oblivious to them all? Is it that we don’t see Christ because we aren’t paying attention?

The Devil is real, my friends! He is the great deceiver, but he is also the great distractor! He is the master of sleight of hand and he is always busy performing his act causing us to miss the messages from our Master. But this did not start in the twenty-first century. He was busy back in the days of the disciples. Watch this:

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: ( Luke 22:31)

So as you can see, the evil one has been manipulating us for thousands of years, and he continues even today. What can we do about it , you ask? We can make a conscious effort to be alert, watch for his deceptions, but most of all, live out Matthew 6:33.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Satan is the great manipulator and we have made it so easy for him with all of our gadgets, foolish activities, and interests. It is time we resisted him and when we do, scripture says that he will flee.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7  

“God reveals Himself, but the Devil conceals himself.”

Leonard Ravenhill