Indeed, this is wisdom in these perilous times!
The Holy Scriptures give us so many warnings to take heed of ourselves. With so much going on the world – not for the good in most part it seems at times – it’s easy to get caught up in all these events. Fires! Floods! Locusts! Pestilence! Lockdown! Mass job losses! Increasing violence! Tumults! Wars and rumours of wars! Those of us who believe we are indeed in the last days, even the ‘last hour’ (see 1 John 2:28) of this present world ought not to forget that the word to “watch and pray” (see e.g. Matthew 26:41) includes taking heed to ourselves. May we be enabled to take care not to be so swayed by what is unfolding in the world around us that we become undiscerning of subtle attempts to plant things into our hearts which affect how we view, interpret and perceive things.
Recently in my quiet time reading and feeding in the word of God, I was struck by how important it is to guard our hearts as I read the account of Satan entering Judas’s heart at John 13:21-30:
‘….Jesus….. was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke. Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.’
I wondered that this had not struck me when I began the chapter a day or so before – but there is a time and season – and a reason – for every instruction!
Earlier in the chapter of the account, Lord Yeshua had just washed Judas’ feet (see John 13:1-11); all the disciples had been eating supper together (John 13:2), they had broken and shared bread together – Judas even received a piece of bread from the hand of the Lord and eaten it (John 13:26). However, the Scriptures reveal that this was not the point where Satan had entered Judas’ heart at all.
John 13:2 states, ‘[a]nd supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him’.
Luke 22:1-6 records this: ‘Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people. Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.’
I find it a horrible and alarming thought to dwell on, but one I personally believe is important to consider – and consider again – and so be profited by the warnings. At the time of considering it then, the account of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11) also came to mind and in particular the words at Acts 5:3!
It was as I went over these horrible events again a few days later that I became particularly aware of Satan’s work in his willing vessel Judas! Satan had first put the suggestion of betrayal into Judas’ heart and then entered into him to carry it out! As I pondered on this, the Scripture which came very clearly to mind was, ‘Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life’ (Proverbs 4:23). I’m sure another translation says, ‘guard your heart…’ and these were the actual words which came to mind. Reading the contextual passage it comes from throws light on how this might be done, understood from the perspective of faith in Lord Yeshua and the word of God to us. Proverbs 4:20-27 says this:
‘My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
Do not let them depart from your eyes;
Keep them in the midst of your heart;
For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their flesh.
Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.
Put away from you a deceitful mouth,
And put perverse lips far from you.
Let your eyes look straight ahead,
And your eyelids look right before you.
Ponder the path of your feet,
And let all your ways be established.
Do not turn to the right or the left;
Remove your foot from evil.’
We who have been born of the Spirit of God and saved by the grace of God through faith in Lord Yeshua have the Spirit of God indwelling in us according to the word of promise from God as recorded throughout the New Testament Scriptures for us. Nevertheless, the instruction of guarding our hearts still holds good ‘because [our] adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith..’ (1 Peter 5:8-9).
Let us be watchful of our hearts in the Spirit of God, by His grace, in these darkening days.
God bless you.
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