My Papaw Reynolds had a favorite saying: “Don’t step backwards or the Devil will step right into your footprints.” He meant that the evil one kept driving you backwards until you backed into a wall. My mother reminded us of this truth this week.
We sometimes forget, she pointed out, that while our sins and the sins of other people are the source of much evil in the world, there is also a spiritual foe who is always plotting and planning against us. He is the wormtongue in our ear telling us to quit, lying about us.
Of course, the evil one’s wish is to encourage sin, but most ways we fall short require no diabolical help. We prefer the “is” of our desire to the “ought” of the normal. We aren’t Jesus, so Satan and his minions don’t have to prod us to choose the world and broken desires to those of God. The devils do not make us sin, but they can set us up to choose badly.
When we are tempted in the modern wilderness, the lies are often those of the slanderer or accuser. Depression makes self-destructive behavior attractive. Most of the young men I met who were struggling with pornography use were using it to feel better. Sexual release was their drug of choice. For others, alcohol or drugs are an attempt to silence the lies. Therapy helps and so does Biblical counseling, but sometimes standing against the devils helps as well.
I have seen it and personally experienced it.
We retreat when the wormtongue speaks and he moves forward. Often we act, we do something, anything, to silence the voice that says: “Why try? You blew it already.” Maybe it is this time, in this country, but far from too much self-esteem, the people I meet (secular and Christian) are full of self-doubt. The bravado and the quest for prizes is most often a cover for despair.
And I know too many of us just fall into despair. We slouch to Gomorrah because we wish to burn.
Again, there are many good, practical steps that will help: not all of this trouble is diabolical or based on spiritual problems. We might have a biological problem. We should see the doctor and talk about our sorrow. Sometimes the lies have come from people and a good therapist can help us unravel the untruth. Both medicine and psychology have helped me . . . And many others I know.
Go.
My Mom, however, is right. This is good, but then we should turn to God and ask the Lord to rebuke the devils. We must stand in the mighty name of Jesus. We step forward into joy. Recall: the news that we are not what we wish is not news to most of us, grace is news. We know enough to condemn ourselvs and devils know the buttons to push. How could God love us?
Yet God loves us:
for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.
We step forward in that knowledge! We do not ignore our faults, our most grievous faults: they are real. We must not give up or act up, because of them. Devils would have our worst days or desires define us. God would have us turn Godward, so we can serve others (and ourselves) in perfect love.
Papaw was right. Let’s step forward!
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