Simon Says

Simon Says - Nathele Graham - twotug@embarqmail.com Most of us have played that childhood game called Simon Says. You know the rules. There’s one person who fills the roll of Simon, and whatever he says, you do. “Simon saystouch your nose” and everybody touches their noses. “Simon says don’t touch your nose” and all hands drop away from the nose. “Simon says hop on one foot” and everybody hops until Simon says to stop hopping. “Simon says act like a monkey” and everybody makesmonkey sounds and pretends to be a monkey. “Stop acting like a monkey”. Some players stop, but the ones who have paid attention and didn’t hear “Simon says stop acting like a monkey” will keep on being monkeys. It’s a fun game with lots of laughs, but there’sa real-life counterpart of Simon Says that we play every day, but it’s not a game. It’s very serious. Actually, you can choose one of two versions: Satan Says, or God Says. Every word of Scripture, in its original language, was dictated by God to the man whoheld the pen. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Becauseof that fact, you can trust every verse of Scripture, from Genesis through Revelation, to be true. It’s much wiser to believe what God says than to believe what Satan says. Satan’s lies are only designed to draw you away from God. What might start out as harmless fun can soon turn into a life-altering struggle. A person who has accepted Christ is indwelt and sealed by the Holy Spirit, but can stillbe led down the wrong path by following the wrong directions. Scripture says that there is freedom in Christ, but that doesn’t mean we can abuse that freedom. “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, butI will not be brought under the power of any.” 1 Corinthians 6:12. So, if Satan says it’s OK to have same sex relationships and be “married”, or choose what gender you want to be, look to Scripture to see what God says. “So God created man in his own image,in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Genesis 1:27. Adam and Eve were God’s highest creation and He blessed them in marriage. “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shallbe one flesh.” Genesis 2:24. When Jesus was asked if it was allowable to divorce, Jesus referred to this fundamental truth. “And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said,For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Matthew 19:4-6. Marriagebetween a man and a woman is ordained of God, so if you’re a Christian and think “alternative lifestyles” are acceptable or opt to forego marriage vows in favor of “living together”, then you’re playing Satan Says instead of God Says. Satan says that there are many ways to heaven. This lie has caused the deceived to follow Allah, Mormonism, Jehovah Witnesses, Buddha, yoga, and many more erroneous paths. WhenJesus was on His final trip to Jerusalem, He had a very serious talk with His disciples. He told them He was going to go and prepare a place for them, but would come again and take them to be with Him always. He spoke to the men who were following Him, butHe was also speaking to those of us who follow Him today. “And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” John 14:4. Even though those men had followed him and heard His voice daily, they were confused. It was Thomas who questioned Him. It’s good to ask Godquestions, but important to hear what He says. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6. Jesus says that He is the only way to eternal life. Don’t listen to Satan, but listen to God. Satan would love for all the world to practice witchcraft and sorcery. Do you follow his voice and participate? No? Do you take drugs? Many people have chosen to followSatan’s voice and become involved with this evil. A little marijuana may not seem harmful at first, but no good can ever come from following the ways of the world, which is led by Satan. That marijuana easily moves you to more potent drugs and soon you’respending every dime you have to feed your drug habit. God’s word tells us that drugs are evil. “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations,wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21. Youdon’t see the word “drugs” in that list because it’s written in English, but you do see the word “witchcraft”. In Greek, the word is “pharmakeia”, defined as “the use or the administering of drugs; poisoning; sorcery, magical arts, often found in connectionwith idolatry and fostered by it”. Drugs can open portals for demons to take control of you. If you claim to be a Christian and are dabbling with drugs, beware. Are only illegal drugs a problem? Our pharmaceutical manufacturers are popping out drugs as ifthey’re in a frenzy. They have “side effects”, but don’t worry, there’s always another drug. Our children have many, many health issues as a result of government sanctioned vaccines, but there are always more drugs available to help their ADHD, autism, foodallergies, etc. If you ever see the witches brew of ingredients in the vaccines, you’ll wonder how any of our little ones survive. Satan is behind this, and more trouble is in the near future. Have you heard of the Mark of the Beast? It will be required bythe man who is pure evil. Revelation describes him as the beast, and that is what he is. He will do miraculous things, which will deceive people into trusting him, but his evil ways don’t stop with false signs and lying wonders. “And he causeth all, both smalland great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Revelation 13:16-17. Satan says thatmark isn’t bad, but God says if you take the mark you cannot be saved from eternal death. “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the sameshall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of theirtorment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” Revelation 14:9-11. Eternal damnation is the price paid for following what Satan says rather thanwhat God says. Satan is the ruler of this world, but Christians are not of this world. Our directions in life come from God and must be followed. Nothing but evil comes from playing SatanSays. God’s way may seem strict or legalistic, but His ways are in place to protect us from Satan’s lies. It’s incumbent upon Christians to do what God says instead of what Satan says. Scripture was written for a guide to lead us along the paths of righteousness. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew7:13-14. People who have not accepted Christ cannot be expected to follow God’s path. They listen to the voice of Satan and follow his directions. They might be nice people, but they have no moral guide. If a Christian strays from the path of righteousness,there’s always forgiveness to be found in Jesus, but we cannot continue to follow Satan’s voice while claiming to be a Christian. God’s voice is spoken through Scripture and we need to heed His voice. We who are students of prophecy can see that time is swiftly running out. Temptations will be harder to resist as Satan’s voice is growing louder and more insistent. Listento God’s voice and follow what He says. God says that Christians will be taken Home in the Rapture prior to His wrath being poured out upon all the earth and those who dwell there. Christians will not be on earth to see the beast described in Revelation, butwill have been Raptured prior to the Tribulation. We will be in Heaven with our Lord and Saviour. If you haven’t given your life to Him, or if you have any doubts about your salvation, turn to Him now. If you know someone who is playing Satan Says, ratherthan God Says, then you need to have a serious talk with them. Jesus says that there’s only one way to spend eternity with Him, and that’s to follow Him as sheep follow their own shepherd. “My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me: and Igive unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.” John 10:27-30.Those words bring great comfort to us. If you’re playing a harmless game of Simon Says, have fun and enjoy the game. On the other hand, life isn’t a game. If you’re doing what Satan says, God says stop rightnow before you’ve forfeited your whole life. “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:36. Do what Jesus says and you will gain eternal life. God bless you all, Nathele Graham