Swords And Things

Read 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

Kendrick was in trouble for sure. His teacher, Mr. Hancock, had called his name, but he had been too preoccupied to hear. Mr. Hancock walked over, picked up Kendrick’s notebook, and thumbed through it. “I’ll see you after class,” he said.

When the bell rang, Kendrick nervously approached his teacher’s desk. Mr. Hancock took Kendrick’s notebook and turned to some drawings Kendrick had made. They were all strange pictures of swords and daggers. Some had what seemed to be rays of light coming from the sword. Others had an eye on the hilt of the sword with some odd writing. “What are all these?” asked Mr. Hancock.

“Swords,” Kendrick replied.

“I can see that. But what do they mean? Isn’t it unusual just to draw swords?” asked Mr. Hancock.

“They’re like the ones in a video game I play,” said Kendrick. “See . . . these swords all have special powers.”

“Kendrick,” Mr. Hancock said, “it’s bad enough that you weren’t paying attention in class, but it really disturbs me to see what has been occupying your thoughts. You are giving a man-made object power that belongs only to God. That’s what idolatry is.”

“It’s just a game,” objected Kendrick. “I know they don’t really have powers.”

“At this point you do,” acknowledged Mr. Hancock, “but many people have opened the door for Satan to work in their lives by letting their thoughts be occupied with things just like this. The Bible says we are to cast down ‘arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.’ You see, even things we think about—or imagine—can have real spiritual power. That’s why we have to be so careful about our thoughts.”

How about you?

Have you been playing games that are not pleasing to God? Such games usually give God’s power to some man-made object. This is from Satan—he has always wanted God’s power. Will you decide today that you won’t become involved in anything that gives God’s power to something other than God?

Memorize:

“[Cast] down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5, NKJV