The Lure

By Kevin Hogg


I love spiders, they fascinate me. From the big scary looking ones, as large as my hand to the cute little jumping spiders. Some of them are fast and agile, colourful, drab, they are built to purpose, from eyes to their fangs. Some are patient, coiled springs, waiting for their prey. If you have ever taken the time to really look at the web spinners and their intricate webs, they are amazing. They are designed to ensnare; the spiders’ hairs alert the spider to any movement on the web. Vibrations alert the spider to the size and location of the prey. Increases in frequency and urgency announce that the prey has been ensnared and is unable to remove itself. The tensile strength of the spider silk is incredible, and teams of scientists have been spent inordinate amounts of money trying to understand its chemical makeup and if at all possible, duplicate it for industrial purposes.

The web spinners strategy is reminiscent to our old foe Satan. He too waits purposefully. He too has become very adept at what he does. He too understands the exact location, situation, personalities used as a lure. He knows where to frequent, what to say, how to look. Often camouflaged. Just the like the web ensnares, so does sin. It entangles, it is seemingly impossible to break without assistance and is deadly. Spiritually deadly, sometimes physically.

Sin destroys relationships, creates a need to hide, deceive. Creates distrust between you and your loved ones. Most importantly it impacts on our relationship with God. Stop what you are doing, repent, accept the consequences, seek forgiveness. Avoid the pitfalls, know the signs.

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. James 1:12-15

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 1 Peter 5:6-9

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 1 John 2:1-3

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:1-14