What captain would think of setting out on a voyage without the all-important chart? Far more foolish would he be if, when in mid-ocean, he neglected to examine his chart and despised its faithful, friendly warnings.
Still more foolish is the boy or girl, whose frail bark has been launched upon the ocean of time, and though swiftly sailing toward eternity, neglects the faithful warnings of the heavenly chart—God’s Word. Satan has one object, he desires to rob Christ of the joy and glory of saving you. To accomplish this, he presents all the pleasures of sin to lure the unwary to destruction.
You have heard, I doubt not, of the rattlesnake—a most deadly reptile. Its food chiefly consists of rabbits, birds, etc., though it frequently attacks man and inflicts a deadly wound with its poison fangs, which may prove fatal in a few minutes. It is provided with a strange appendage to its tail, which produces a rattling sound. When on the lookout for its prey it continuously shakes this rattle, until a reckless bird or rabbit, attracted by the sound, approaches it.
The serpent, erect and motionless, now fixes its basilisk and glittering eyes upon the frightened bird or animal, and apparently subjects it to some sort of strange influence, for though half paralyzed with fear, the terror-stricken victim makes not the slightest effort to escape, hovers or plays about nearer and nearer the beautiful destroyer, fascinated and, bewitched by those gleaming, sparkling eyes, and at length the trembling prey approaches, helplessly unable to escape, coming close to the rigid form of the serpent.
In the twinkling of an eye the subtle serpent darts forward and fixes its deadly fangs in the victim which he has lured to destruction.
Remember the words of the preacher: “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” Prov. 1:1010My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. (Proverbs 1:10).
Satan has varied baits for the unwary, and subtly deludes with the world’s varied pleasures; but, dear reader, be not deceived, he seeks your soul’s destruction. All that this world can offer is for TIME, your soul must live for ETERNITY. Seek, I beseech you, a refuge in the Lord Jesus Christ, He died to deliver you from the power of Satan, and give you a home in glory with Himself forever,
Which will you be—
Lured to destruction or saved for glory? Jesus said,
ML 01/19/1936