We have heard about 3D glasses that allow audience to become part of the action. It has two different perspectives of the same image superimposed on each other. Few days back in a colloquy I happened to speak about the Ds that intimidate however, the Ds have been conquered through D – Death itself of/by the Redeemer of the world. Yes, there are 3 Ds or 4Ds and 5Ds… that threaten life, be it material or spiritual. From riches to rags and not from rags to riches.
Onset of Ash Wednesday, while ash (dust) is applied on our foreheads, a look into the Ds will enlighten and sharpen our senses/inner recesses to conquer the dreadful Ds. Among the many Ds let’s single out three Ds that ruin one’s life, one’s relationships, one’s marriages or career/business: DESIRE, DOUBT and DISBELIEF. All this is well brought out in The Book of Genesis 3: 1, “the cunning serpent asked the woman: did God really tell you not to eat from any of the trees in the Garden? The woman answered the serpent: We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; it is only about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden that God said: “You, shall not eat it or even touch it, lest you die”. But the serpent known for its subtle ways said to the woman: You certainly will not die! No, God knows well that the moment you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods who know what is good and what is bad”.
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Thus, DESIRE crept while the serpent created DOUBT in the woman and she DISBELIEVED what God told them. And finally enticed, the woman saw that the tree was good for food, pleasing to the eyes and desirable for gaining wisdom, took some of its fruit and ate it! Consequently falling prey to the tactics and allurements of Satan which led to DESTRUCTION. We can also say that the woman was DECEIVED and DISOBEYED God due to the DESIRE, and gave birth to DEATH, death eternal which God remedied through the sacrifice of His only Begotten Son’s DEATH on the Cross.
Satan identifies a desire within the person’s weakness and vulnerability, of some kind that he can work with. Satan then creates doubt in God and God’s word. And this doubt results in the subject no longer possessing complete confidence, leaving the door opened for insecurity and unbelief. Once the door of doubt and disbelief are opened, Satan accesses the rooms of deception, says Rick Warren.
“What you don’t know can not only hurt you, but destroy you”, says Dr. Stephan Lomax. Yes, there’s a prowling force that can rob us of joy, confidence and hope, due to our assumptions and presumptions, which leads one to worry and uncertainty. We often talk much about our doubts and fear.
But, Ralph Waldo Emerson says: Don’t waste life in doubts and fears; spend yourself on the work before you, well assured that the right performance of this hour’s duties will be the best preparation for the hours and ages that will follow it”. Let us save our relationships, marriages and family bonds from the grasp of Satan. May the season of Lent be the best platform to wage war against the D’s; mend our ways and ask God to deepen our faith, trust in Him and in His Word and save us from all that destroys/leads to destruction!
