Daily Devotional, Year 2- APRIL 3 (The City of Morality, Part 4: “Satan’s Detours”)

By admin On January 21st, 2021

.

Daily Devotional, Year 2- APRIL 3

.

The City of Morality,

.

Part 4:

“Satan’s Detours”

To read Part 1, click here… “January 5th (The City of Morality)”

.

“As the bird by wandering,

as the swallow by flying,

so the curse causeless shall not come.”

Proverbs 26:2

.

In John Bunyan’s earth-shaking tale, Pilgrim’s Progress, the main character, Christian, was on his way to the Celestial City.

.

But on that way, he met up with a fellow named Worldly Wiseman.

.

He told Christian that all he needed was to go to the Village of Morality!

.

Christian in Pilgrim’s_Progress wiki pub dom.

Worldly Wiseman – Pilgrim’s Progress, p34 – Mr Worldly Wiseman – Wikimedia – Public Domain

.

THE VILLAGE IS NOW A HUGE CITY!

.

And so it is today! Only this Village called Morality is now a full-grown city!

.

Yes, a great portion of today’s Christendom has become just that, the City of Morality!

.

Yes, there are many Christians who, like Bunyan’s pilgrim, have been duped by that old deceiver, Worldly Wiseman!

.

And still, he’s busily misdirecting biblically-challenged Christians into going to the City of Morality instead of continuing onward and upward to heavenly Zion, the eternal City of God!

.

New York Times Square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license

.

TRAVELING THE SAME DIRECTION

.

Now having said all this, there is a concept which has been well-stated in the following saying… “If Satan isn’t coming against you, then perhaps you both are traveling in the same direction!”

.

Now this is not a Bible verse, but still presents a very biblical truth!

.

In other words, you mistakenly assume you’re on the right road to Heaven, because you are not currently experiencing troubles and trials.

.

ABOVE PICTURE: Unfunny Judgment Day Cartoon – a party tonight – signsofheaven.org

.

“BAG OF TRICKS”

.

But the fact is, when a Christian begins to travel that gently sloping upward pathway to the Celestial City, the Devil becomes enraged.

.

And so he must try to derail that Christian, any way he can!

.

Now, Satan has his “bags of tricks”.

.

This bag consists of all the various tricks and gimmicks designed to lure the Christian back into the world…

.

…and into his prison-house of sin and selfishness!

.

Christian and Apollyon – Pilgrim’s Progress – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

.

PROSPERITY-DRIVEN GOSPELS

.

Now the current prosperity-driven gospels, and seeking after earthly riches, is just one many diversions which naive churchgoers can be lured into.

.

Yes, the Devil convinces many in the Christian world that God wants us to be financially affluent, through a life of hard work and devotion to the attainment of earthly prosperity!

.

And so, this artful deceiver can thereby keep Christians so busy that they place their heart-purification on that proverbial, “back burner”!

.

But God has counseled Christians… “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:33

.

Christian Race In Todays World – courtesy www.signsofheaven.org – share-alike lcense

.

THE DAY OF THE LORD

.

O Pilgrim, the Devil knows just how close we are to Armageddon!

Listen… “And take heed to yourselves,

lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with…cares of this life,

and so that day come upon you unawares.

*For as a snare shall it come on…the whole earth.***

Watch ye therefore, and pray always,

that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things…”

Luke 21:34-36 (condensed for brevity)

.

This above passage stands as a warning to all of us who are now standing on the brink of that, “Great and the terrible Day of the Lord”! (Joel 2:31)

.

Painting-Great Day of His Wrath by J. Martin-Wikipedia-Public Domain-Click her for link.

.

THE RIGHT PATHWAY

.

But those who are wise, will always endeavor to, “keep the main thing, the main thing!”

.

No matter what fiery dart that the Wicked One shoots at the Believer, that Christian pilgrim will tenaciously cling to the right and true pathway: the purification of the heart!

.

Listen… “And every man that hath this hope in Him purifies himself, even as He is pure.” 1st John 3:3

.

Yes, to hide God’s Word and His precious promises in our heart, and to separate from all forms of selfish-worldly influences must be the primary focus of each and every Christian!

.

USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – public domain

.

BEWARE OF THIS FELLOW!

.

And so, dear Pilgrim, don’t let that old rascal, Worldly Wiseman, detour you into the City of Morality, away from the true focus of your relationship with Jesus!

.

Worldly Wiseman – Pilgrim’s Progress p34 – Mr Worldly Wiseman – Wikimedia – public domain

.

TO READ PART 5, CLICK HERE…

“September 12 (The City of Morality, Part 5: “The Christian Fraternity House”)”

Elks Lodge – by Joe Mabel – Wikimedia – Share-alike License 1.2

.

TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Let me not be deceived, discouraged, or detoured into the wrong direction, onto a counterfeit, look-alike pathway…

Woman Praying – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

.

THE END

.

TODAY’S HEAVENLY SIGN

.

THE FIVE WISE VIRGINS STARS

.

“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins,

which took their lamps,

and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

.

And five of them were wise,

and five were foolish.

They that were foolish took their lamps,

and took no oil with them:

But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.”

Matthew 25:1-4

.

WIKIPEDIA STAR-CHART

.

This constellation was identified on May 22nd, 2014.

.

It is simply five stars, two from the Serpens Constellation, and three from the Hercules Constellation.

What gives this constellation impetus and significance is that it appears as five evenly positioned stars, in a slight oval pattern, as if they were sitting in a meeting, listening, or perhaps watching someone.

.

Second, they appear to be gathered in front of The Crown of Revelation 12 Constellation. (just below Corona Borealis in this Wikipedia star-chart, in which the editor of this site sketched in these two constellations)

.

ABOVE STAR-CHART – Summer constellation – Five Wise Virgins Stars & The Glorious Crown – Corona Borealis – signsofheaven.org – Not for profit uses! – Wikipedia Star chart with constellations drawn in by this website.

Signs Of Heaven