Landmines in the Path of the Believer: Avoiding the Hidden Dangers (Hardback)

Chapter One

King Saul looked across his tent into the eyes of David. It was the first time he had truly stopped to look at the lad, and from his perspective that was exactly what David was: a lad-a youthful man-one who was ruddy in complexion, possibly full of overrated zeal, and looking for his first real chance to prove that he was a first-class warrior. He had come to the right place-the battlefield-a place of strategic warfare.

David was forthright in the king's presence. His résumé included victories over a lion and a bear in defense of his father's flock of sheep. However, Saul knew he would need something more if he planned to emerge the victor from this battle. David's fearless spirit and undaunted desire to avenge God's people caught Saul's attention (1 Sam. 17).

The king relented. David fought Goliath. The rest is history. However, Saul's decision to allow David to fight the Philistine giant was one he would live to regret. This victory became a defining moment in the history of the nation of Israel because it subtly announced the coming of Saul's successor and the end of his reign.

David was greeted in the city streets with celebration: "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands" (1 Sam. 18:7). The Bible tells us that from that time, "Saul looked at David with suspicion" (v.9). Jealousy, pride, and anger filled the king's heart, and David became the target of Saul's personal rage.

FACE-TO-FACE WITH OUR ENEMY

Those who have fought the good fight of faith will tell you that when you are in the heat of a spiritual battle, it does not take long to realize Satan will do anything to prevent you from becoming the person God has planned for you to be. The enemy is a cunning force that you must face. His strategic plan is laid out to entice you to sin and drift in your devotion to God. How does he do this? Satan uses many of the things we feel are harmless or unavoidable sins-gossip, feelings of unforgiveness, pride, and cynicism, to name a few. He also watches to see how we will react to a situation. If there is an opportunity for him to weave his evil mischief into our thoughts, he will take it. This tactic is foundational to his work of laying landmines across our paths. This is especially true on the spiritual front lines of battle where the enemy hides landmines with the intent of using them for our destruction.

The landmines in his arsenal include such sins as pride, jealousy and envy, disappointment, unforgiveness, compromise, sexual temptation, fear, and laziness-which God also calls slothfulness. Each one is designed by Satan to discourage you and keep you from reaching your full potential. That happened in Saul's life. He never fully became the person God created him to be because he allowed pride to enter his heart. If we are not discerning and wise, the same will be true of us.

Yet it may not be pride that creates havoc in our hearts. It could be a spirit of unforgiveness or jealousy that taunts us to abandon the truth of God in order to follow our selfish desires. Once exploded, any one of these landmines has the ability to paralyze us and stop us from living the life God has given us to live. They rob us of the very faith, hope, love, and joy that He seeks to build into our lives.

Saul had every opportunity to succeed as king. God had anointed and empowered him to rule the nation of Israel. Instead of ruling the people with godly insight, he allowed his heart to be ruled by a spirit of pride. And that very thing led to his downfall.

The enemy is cunning. He knows exactly how to tempt us into disobeying God. He may use the enticement of pride to disarm you, or he could change course and mount an attack with fear, jealousy, sexual sin, or discouragement. There is only one way to combat his wicked efforts, and that is through Jesus Christ. Nothing else will work.

To conquer sin you must admit that you need the Savior. Satan will attempt to use fear, discouragement, thoughts of unforgiveness, pride, and compromise to conquer your heart and emotions. However, God has promised you victory over the very things that the enemy would use for your defeat (Rom. 8:37). You have hope and peace of mind because you are kept by the power of God.

You must settle two things. First, God is greater that any weapon Satan can bring against you. No matter how horrendous Satan's attack may seem, God is all-powerful. Second, to conquer these sins, you must acknowledge that God has forbidden each one. They are landmines that have been laid in your path, but they do not have to lead to your destruction.

You may be tempted to think, Oh, a little pride never hurt anyone, but it was a deadly explosion in the life of King Saul, and it is in yours too. Many people mistakenly believe the enemy uses obvious means to draw us off course. However, he rarely takes a predictable route.

Were it not for God's merciful grace and infinite love, any one of us could end up just like King Saul. The wondrous truth that is ours for eternity is that we are not alone. God has not left us without a way through the valleys of life. We have a Savior who is poised to come to our defense the moment we acknowledge our need for His strength and forgiveness.

When you and I fall prey to one of the enemy's devices, the ensuing explosion affects our relationship with God, friends, family members, coworkers, and others. It damages our personal testimony. And if we continue to ignore God's warning, we will get off course, miss His blessings, and experience deep regret.

Over the years, people have asked me how they can learn to discern Satan's wicked schemes. There is a way, but many dismiss it because their hearts are not turned toward God. They want to avoid difficulty and suffering, but they are not willing to commit their lives fully to Jesus Christ.

For them, it is easier to encounter an occasional explosion than to obey God. Their lives lack meaning and true contentment. They are more interested in what the world deems as "right," in style, and important.

Avoiding serious sin is not difficult, especially if you follow the route God has given you to travel. He knows the way through every landmine field. You may be shaking your head and wondering how in the world you could ever hope to stay in tune with God's will, especially when temptation is ready to throw you off the path at every turn.

The truth is, at some point all of us have wondered how we can say no to something that appears so innocent yet contains deadly potential. Oswald Chambers writes,

If the Spirit of God detects anything in you that is wrong, He does not ask you to put it right [or explain what you have done]; He asks you to accept [God's] light [about your situation], and He will put it right. A child of [God] confesses instantly and stands bared before the Lord; a child of the darkness says-"Oh, I can explain that away." When once the light breaks and the conviction of wrong comes, be a child of the light, and confess, and God will deal with what is wrong; if you vindicate yourself, you prove yourself to be a child of the darkness. (My Utmost for His Highest)

Victory is realized when we learn to be sensitive to God's Spirit-the Holy Spirit-and to live according to His will and not just our desires. After the Fall, when Adam heard the Lord walking through the garden, he was afraid. He had never felt this emotion before. Then he heard the voice of God asking, "Where are you?" (Gen. 3:9). Adam could deliver only an excuse, "I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself" (v. 10).

The Lord asked, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?"(v. 11). For the first time, fear touched Adam's heart, and he responded the way most of us have done when we violate one of God's principles: Adam hid from the Lord.

AVOID TACTICAL ERRORS

Satan believes if he can corner you and pressure you with his vile, sinful suggestion, then there is a chance you may become so discouraged and fearful that you will want to give up. The entire time he is pushing to achieve this goal, he uses extreme tactics of warfare to separate you from God-from the blessings of living in the light of His love and from the love of friends and family.

You do not have to fall victim to Satan's ploys. You can learn to uncover and disarm the enemy's weapons of warfare. When your life is focused only in one direction-toward God-He will guide you safely across the emotional battlefield. He also will show you how to defuse every potential threat.

Therefore, when you feel as though your resolve is about to give way, remember Paul's words to the Corinthians: "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it" (1 Cor. 10:13).

God has given you every resource you need to be successful (Josh. 1:7). It all begins with simple faith and love for a holy God who gave His life for you on Calvary's cross. Before His death, Jesus told His followers, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free" (John 8:31-32).

How do you uncover and defuse the landmines that have been laid out in your pathway?

Realize you are in a spiritual war. Many people get up and go out to meet the day without thinking twice about Satan's landmines. Although God never wants us to fear the enemy's threats, we certainly need to be aware of his unyielding desire to rob us of the Lord's blessings. After all, he knows the potential of our lives because we are children of God, and he will do everything within his power to prevent us from enjoying our walk with the Lord. A key step to spiritual victory comes when we acknowledge we have an enemy who poses a real threat. We also need to remember we serve an all-knowing, all-powerful God who loves us with an everlasting love, and He is committed to protecting and providing for us. His love sustains us in times of deep trial and temptation.

We can fight the enemy, but unless we understand the power that has been given to us through Jesus Christ, we will suffer loss. Paul wrote, "The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses" (2 Cor. 10:4). You must understand the infinite strength that is available to you through Jesus Christ. When you do, you will gain a sense of empowerment that will help you detect the landmines of the enemy.

Once you realize you are accepted, unconditionally loved, and forgiven, you will want to avoid the very things that potentially could bring disaster to you. People who have never learned about God's ways and personal love end up making horrendous mistakes. They become involved in relationships that lead to sin, brokenness, sorrow, and extreme disappointment because they are searching for the very thing that God is offering them with every breath they take.

Many times, people yield to temptation because they are looking for someone who has the ability to meet all their needs. I have counseled young men who have told me, "I believe she can make me happy." This is a common statement and a common mistake. Often people search for the perfect husband or wife, thinking that if they can find that person, all their problems will be solved, but they never are. Problems are a natural part of life, and the only Person who can perfectly meet our needs is Jesus Christ.

As you read through the material in this book, ask Him to open your heart-first, to the love He personally has for you; and second, to those landmines the enemy has strategically placed in front of you. When you become aware of the depth of his deception, you need to turn away from sin and rush into the all-protective, loving arms of Christ, your Lord and Savior.

Trust God and know He will help you. The apostle Peter wrote, "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world" (1 Peter 5:8-9).

There is knowledge to be gained at every turn with the Lord. We learn to watch for the enemy's crafty deception. And through the presence of the Holy Spirit, we also learn how to stand firm in our faith and not succumb to the enemy's enticements. Adam and Eve were blinded to his sinister plot because they took their eyes off God. Instead of valuing the awesome relationship they had been given, they actually believed that they could gain even more! The reality is that they lost everything-everything but the love of God. His love for them remained steadfast. Out of love for them, He created the garments they wore as they left the garden and went into the rugged landscape of a broken world.

God never abandons us. He did not leave Adam and Eve, and He will never take His love away from you or me. The prophet Jeremiah wrote,

The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. (Lam. 3:22-23)

Perhaps you feel like you have stepped on a horrendous landmine. You have been severely wounded-maimed to the point that you now wonder whether you will ever be emotionally, spiritually, and physically well again. In times when you feel as though you have completely failed, the wondrous love of God always comes shining through the darkness of your situation. When you ask Him to reveal the enemy's landmines that are laid out before you, He will do it. He also will teach you how to disarm the ones that are set and ready to go off so you can walk in the light of His victory and hope each day.

In Ephesians, the apostle Paul told us to

be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. (Eph. 6:10-13)

He also admonished us to pray without ceasing, because he knew that the victory God has for us can be won only on our knees (v. 18). If you are struggling, take time to pray. But even more than this, if you want to have the peace that passes all human understanding, ask the Lord to draw you close to Him in prayer. You can do all things through Christ who gives you the strength you need for every problem and situation (Phil. 4:13).

Remember you are not alone. The disciples forgot this one simple truth and detonated a landmine of fear. Out on the open Sea of Galilee with storm clouds gathering, they became fearful. Their eyes were set on their physical surroundings. Instead of recalling the promises of God, they cried out, believing their lives were about to end. So many times we immediately think, Oh, no! What if this happens? What will I do? We cave in to fear, but nothing touches our lives unless it has passed through the hands of God-the mighty hands of the omnipotent God, who only has our best interest in mind. It is true that the Holy Spirit had not yet come, and perhaps that was why the disciples struggled. Yet Jesus had told them to go over to the other side of the lake. He had a plan, and it included their safe passage across the Sea of Galilee.

They had seen Jesus stop and pray many times, but they did not follow His example in their time of distress. God wants us to remember that He is with us and will give us the wisdom we need for every situation if we will stop and pray. God has an answer for our every need. But far too often we become paralyzed by our circumstances because we do not call out to the Person who lives inside us.

Nonbelievers have a reason to worry. Their names are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Pressures build, problems come, and they do not have the wisdom that God has given to those who have given their hearts and lives to Him.

Storms will come. The winds that blow against your life may feel threatening. However, there is never a moment when you are outside His loving care. You may turn toward sin and even refuse to follow His ways, but He will never stop loving you. He may allow the waves to crest and overflow your boat, but when you cry out to Him, He will save you.

(Continues...)