For Sale

I spent the last three days overseeing a hot tub expo here in St. John's. There was a team of pro sales men who managed to sell over fifty hot tubs, each priced over $10 000, in just one weekend. Admittedly, I don't know much about the hot tub industry, but their sale skills really impressed me. The idea of a hot tub doesn't really appeal to me, nor does spending ten grand. So I was shocked that somehow these guys managed to convince more than fifty people that it was worthwhile. They found a way to appeal to the people's desires and present them with an offer so appealing that they couldn't say no.

This got me thinking about how Satan would probably make a great salesman. First off, I'm in no way implying that the sales guys from this expo are Satan or are immoral in any way; I don't know enough about hot tubs to determine whether or not their sale pitches were factual or not. In fact, from the conversations I've had with them, they all seem like great guys. I'm only using this "salesman" idea as a metaphor.

In the perfect light of God's word, we see sin for what it is.

As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.- Proverbs: 26:11

I will repay them double for their wickedness and their sin, because they have defiled my land with the lifeless forms of their vile images and have filled my inheritance with their detestable idols.  - Jeremiah 16:18

and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men - 2 Peter 2:7

Sin is described as vomit, vile, detestable, and filthy. Definitely not words used to describe desirable things. Yet somehow, Satan makes the sale day after day. Like a good salesman, Satan tries to connect with you and learn about your desires. He uses that knowledge against you, selling you sin specifically twisted to fit your desires. Like duct tape, desires have a dark side and a light side. The light side holds us tightly to God, while the dark side is slippery.

For example, someone might have a desire to marry. This is a good, God-given desire. In God's perfect plan, that would bring together a man and a woman to share their lives together, growing daily in their love for God, praying together, reading and discussing scripture together and blessing others around them as they are carried along by God's Spirit. But when Satan tries to entice someone with this desire, he might lure them with lustful images and impure relationships. Satan gives them only a small, fleeting imitation of what God had in store. After he makes the sale, he pulls away the mask and the captive person sees the sin for what it is: vile, detestable, filthy vomit.

Someone else might have the desire to speak. They could be gifted with the ability to speak well and easily around lots of people. God could use this desire for godly purposes, like teaching or encouraging. Satan could entice someone to use this desire for gossip or manipulating others.

Avoiding temptation is difficult. Especially when it appeals to our desires. What we need to ask ourselves is if this thing will fulfill God's purpose for our desire or Satan's distortion of the desire. God's purposes bring us closer to Him, they glorify Him, and they are for our long-term benefit. Satan's distortions, however, push us away from God, they insult God, and they only benefit us in the short-term and harm us in the long-term.

The thief [Satan] comes only to steal and destroy; I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. - John 10:10

We need to be aware of this short-term benefit sales pitch that Satan throws at us. We have a bad habit of trying to meet our desires as quickly and as easily as possible. We're not all that different from fish trying to fill their stomachs with whatever is floating nearby. Fish don't take time to examine what they're about to eat. They don't notice that the lure they're swallowing isn't real food but just an imitation. They don't ponder on the decision long enough to notice the hook. They simply see what they believe is a way to fulfill their desire and before they realize what is happening, they're caught.

We all know we're smarter than fish, so it's time we start living like it. Slow down in life, take time to pray over things and seek God's counsel. Ask for eyes to see the world for the way it is, so that we might have the ability to distinguish between the vomit of Satan and the Spirit-filled blessings of God.

But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. - Matthew 13:16

How about you? Has Satan ever sold you a lie that, when looking back on it, you can't believe you were suckered into it? If you feel comfortable, leave a comment and share about a time when you were led astray by Satan's sale pitch and how you can be watchful in the future.