Love to hear from and know who is listening
When I was a young boy I decided that I going to teach my little brother the art of jumping ramp on your bicycle. So I stacked up some cinder blocks on the ground and laid a nice wide board on them. Then I went up the hill in the driveway with my bicycle at my grandparents home and told my brother, “Watch this!” I went screaming down the driveway as fast as I could pedal my bike. When my tires hit the ramp board the cinder block fell over. When the front tire of my bicycle slammed into the block it came to a very sudden stop and I flew like superman with my arms out-stretched in front of me. When I landed on my hands with my feet over my head I broke my right for arm in 6 or 7 pieces right at my wrist. My scheme to teach my brother the art of jumping ramp on his bicycle didn't work out quite like I had planned it.
I grew up during the era of Saturday morning cartoons. Some of my favorites were: The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Speedy Gonzales, Yosemite Sam, Tom & Jerry, The Super Friends and Bugs Bunny. My most favorite cartoon was Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner. The coyote was always putting together some scheme to catch the Road Runner. He would order some gizmo from the Acme company and carefully lay out his scheme to catch the road runner. Unfortunately for the ole coyote his plans always seemed to end in his demise usually with a safe falling on his head, a stick of dynamite blowing up in his hand, oh yeah and my favorite failure was when he would run off a cliff, hang momentarily in the air and then hold up a sign that would say, “That's all Folks!”
Isaiah 32: 7 ESV As for the scoundrel—his devices are evil; he plans wicked schemes to ruin the poor with lying words, even when the plea of the needy is right.
In the world today men are constantly planning and scheming evil. The dictator of North Korea frequently test fires missiles. I have no idea what scheme his has in his mind but I am confident it is not one that would bring glory to God! Vladimir Putin has declared war on Ukraine and is killing many and destroying their country for some evil scheme he has devised in his head. Putin's latest scheme involves moving nuclear weapons from Russia to Belarus, a form of nuclear black mail. According to the news article I read, It’s unclear if moving nukes to Belarus will change the course of the war, but it shows that Putin wants to keep the nuclear threat in the minds of Western leaders. In all that swirls around us today, from national news stories to local news there is not a day go by that someone is not committing an evil act. Their schemes may not directly impact you but, you must admit that more than ever - we're in a battle in this life. We face an active enemy every single day.
Ephesians 6: 12 CSB For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.
There’s one who lurks around us today. He’s real. He’s alive. He’s deceptive. He’s crafty. And his primary goal is to strike you down, along with as many others he can drag down with you. He waits. He searches. He watches. Looking for the best time to attack, at your weakest, most vulnerable moment the Devil will launch his schemes against you. So how should we as Christian's react to the evil schemes of the Devil? Be watchful and aware, but realize God has already won the battle!
Psalm 37: 12-13 CSB The wicked person schemes against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him. The Lord laughs at him because He sees that his day is coming.
