03 Oct Be Sober, Be Vigilant by Deacon Abiodun Adebisi
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8)
Watch the Labels
Whenever we go shopping and I keep off the ‘Rebel’ brand, even my wife gives me that look that says it all, ‘Darling, aren’t you being unduly sentimental about these things?’ Nice products, no doubt, but I would not be adorned in a ‘Rebel’ outfit. The same goes for the ‘Criminal’ and ‘Animal’ labels. All very beautiful products…but there’s something about their names. The inscription (perhaps I’m “old school”) projects not just the product but also the person using it, and I would not like to be seen as a rebel, a criminal or an animal!
And I have seen more worrisome inscriptions on the streets of London. I’ve seen ‘Disturbed’, ‘Sons of Anarchy’ and ‘Kiss the Boys and Make Them Cry’ on some T-shirts and ‘Dirty Pig’ on some jumpers. My take is, if the inscription didn’t align with your thinking, you wouldn’t even buy the product, talk less adorn it with pride. What the scripture tells me is, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” (Proverbs 23:7).
For Christ’s sake, it’s a free world, and people are free to wear what they like! I agree. Just as they’re free to be identified as sons and daughters of God or as ‘sons of Belial’ and ‘daughters of Jezebel’ but all our choices have consequences – even our choice of food and drinks!
Perhaps we should also look at the names of some drinks. There’s a drink called ‘Hooligans’ and another called ‘Monster’. Perfectly legitimate. Freedom. Yes, people are free to identify with and be identified as hooligans and monsters, but not me.
William Shakespeare says in Romeo and Juliet: “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet.”
Not so with our God. Otherwise, Jesus Christ would not have been given a name that is above every other name; it’s the name at which every knee must bow (Philippians 2:9-11). The scripture says, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Jacob had his name changed to Israel (Genesis 35:10). Similarly Abram had a name change and became Abraham (Genesis 17:5). Even now, anyone named Esubiyi (‘a child of the devil’) would like a name change to Oluwabiyi (‘a child of God’) – if they believe in God, that is. So there’s much in a name – from God’s perspective and from the perspective of those of us called by his name. (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Mind your Language
Why make so much fuss about such an “innocuous” thing as a product name? If that’s how you see it, wait until you see how language is adapting to sin so much so that it is obliterating it. Very soon, the word “sin” will no longer be found in the dictionary, or at best it would be classified as “archaic”. Adultery is fast becoming an outdated word. These days, the “cool” terms are “affair” and “fling”. Do you hear the word “promiscuity” any more? All you hear these days is “one night stand”. A prostitute is now dignified with the title “call girl”, “scarlet woman”, “escort”, “working girl” or “business girl”.
And because it is now conventional for “partners” to move in and cohabit, you hardly hear the word “fornication” any more. Although God says, “flee fornication”, people do just the opposite as they tend to run towards it as if it is magnetic. Little wonder the scripture says, “…the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Romans 8:7).
When last did you hear the word “stealing” used? These days, people “nick”; they don’t steal. So much for the “observance” of the commandment, “Thou shalt not steal!” (Exodus 20:15). Isn’t sin now being glorified? One of the strategies of the devil is to present sin as fun. Beloved, it is not. That’s why the scripture warns us not to be ignorant of the devil’s devices (2Corinthians 2:11).
“Sodomy” and “homosexuality” are fast disappearing from the vocabulary because they are considered stigmatising, in line with global “best practices” or political correctness! The “cool” term now is “sexual orientation” as if being “straight” and being “gay” are two sides of the same coin. Anyone who says homosexuals will not inherit the kingdom of God is straightaway branded homophobic. Not that homosexuals are keen on the kingdom though. But believers have a duty to let them know that God loves them and wants them to repent and make heaven.
Be sober, be vigilant
The devil is very crafty. He tries to control state apparatus by exploiting people’s obsession with greed and power to install them in strategic positions to do his bidding. Often he goes about it surreptitiously; but sometimes he does it brazenly. The “harmless” brand names, the use of chip and pin, regional currencies, the gradual progression toward a world currency and the drumbeats of a new world order are examples of the surreptitious. With globalisation, it is possible to wreck the economy of “recalcitrant countries” and get them to tow the line. The world is truly under the ubiquitous eye of Big Brother as portrayed in George Orwell’s futuristic novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four.
The legalisation of homosexuality and demonisation of the people on the Lord’s side who oppose the practice is a brazen act. That’s why homosexuality is spreading worldwide like wildfire and the saints are being persecuted. The few countries which say No to the practice may be strangulated economically, financially or even militarily. Homosexuality may well become a state religion, but does that make it right? The state may rewrite the bible to expunge the “offensive” doctrines or ban it outright, but does that make the word of God in Matthew 24:35 that “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” of no effect or invalidate Revelation 22:18-19?
I remember coming across a Facebook post to the effect that slavery, the holocaust and segregation were all legal, so the state should not be used as a metric for ethics. How so true! Let’s remember, “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1Corinthians 6:12).
Truly, the end time is here. It’s as if the devil is on the rampage, not sparing the church of God. There is aggressive recruitment of famous and beautiful celebrities, including ex-gospel singers, to sell their souls to the devil in order to lure youths into darkness (2 Corinthians 11:13-14; Matthew 24:24). The devil’s ministers have also infiltrated the house of God, parading themselves as agents of light, teaching heresy which is swallowed hook, line and sinker by the gullible as these ministers play on their ignorance. However, ignorance is no defence before God because He has made the truth available unto us that we may not perish (Hosea 4:6; John 8:32).
Believers are required to be vigilant. The scripture says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1Peter 5:8). This write-up has attempted to highlight some of his devices so that we will not be caught napping. We should always read between the lines and be sensitive in the spirit. We must present our bodies “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God” (Romans 12:1), avoid “corrupt communication” and speak only that which edifies (Ephesians 4:29).
One thing we must know. The devil is not likely to appear with a husky voice wearing a mascara face with horns on his head any more. He now wears Prada. He is eloquent and soft-spoken and can easily sway crowds to his side. But his mission remains the same: “to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10). That’s why we need to put on the whole armour of God as highlighted in Ephesians 6:10-18. In spite of all that is going on all around us, we have responsibility to shine and beam the light of God to a dark world so that the world may see our good works and glorify Our Heavenly Father (Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:15).
The “roaring lion” may be on the prowl, but the Lion of the tribe of Judah is more than able to keep the sheep of his pasture (Psalm 100:3; John 10:27-30). We shall not fall prey in Jesus’ name.
Deacon Abiodun Adebisi
Deacon Abiodun Adebisi, a National Officer with The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) writes from the United Kingdom.
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