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An Opportune Time

 

This past year has been one of deeper spiritual quests and discoveries. I think the pandemic and long-standing guidelines have many digging deeper for spiritual truth. I am intrigued by many who have asked me some very profound questions.

One such inquiry involved the Disciple Judas and the meaning behind Luke 22:3, “Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.” They want to know if Satan literally entered Judas or if this is simply a figurative statement.

Most scholars I’ve studied believed it wasn’t just a random satanic demon, but Satan, himself, who literally possessed Judas in order to use him for his dastardly plans. We need to remember how desperate Satan was in stopping Jesus from going to the cross.

Think back to the very beginning when Jesus started his ministry by spending forty days and nights in the desert. Why? The answer is in Matthew 4:1, “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” Satan threw everything at Jesus to try to get him to avoid going to the cross. He failed. Jesus was successful.

Satan, we must understand, does not take defeat lightly. He will not stop. He has no rules so he is relentless to try anything and everything to succeed (1 Peter 5:8). We find a haunting passage in Luke 4:13, “When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.”

Did you catch that? Satan “left him until an opportune time.” Do you know when that “time” came? Satan was unable to stop Jesus at the beginning of his ministry, so he now decides to dismantle everything at the end of his ministry.

Satan found his one “opportune time” to strike out at Jesus one last time. That opportunity was….you guessed it….Judas! This is why he personally entered into Judas to use him to get at Jesus. He was successful at getting Jesus set-up, betrayed and arrested. However, as we know, he again lost as Jesus endured his suffering and obediently went to the cross, died for us and was resurrected back to life.

Satan is relentless. He stopped at nothing to tempt Jesus and to thwart his plans. I pray that we understand this tactic of Satan. The name “Satan” is Hebrew that means “Adversary.” He is our enemy and our opposition. He hates us with passion and wishes for nothing less than our destruction and complete annihilation.

Remember, Judas was one of the twelve disciples who spent three years living with Jesus as an eye-witness and recipient of all that he taught and lived. Yes, despite his time with Jesus, he still allowed his heart to turn far enough away to be used of Satan. We are no different!

We must stand guard! We must be on the alert! We must always live with the awareness that Satan is always looking for an “opportune time” to defeat us. 1 Corinthians 10:12, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!”

Don’t ever take your faith for granted nor allow the world to lull you into inactivity, apathy, or selfishness. Satan knows your limitations and weakness. He will exploit them to the fullest. We must never give him that opportunity to strike.

James 4:8, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” Don’t ever stray too far from God. Nurture and deepen your relationship with him daily.

Live radically obedient. Never compromise. Reconcile each day in repentance and forgiveness. Cultivate a healthy prayer life and devotional time of reading and learning the Bible. Live your faith and share it with others. Nothing could be more crucial for us than to stand firm in our faith and to remember James 4:7, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

 

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