Are Your Eyes Wide Open?

Are Your Eyes Wide Open?

Many years ago, a troubled young man who had been leading a very sinful lifestyle was persuaded by a concerned friend to attend a gospel meeting. The speaker began his message with this verse, “In order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes” (2 Cor. 2:11 NIV ), and then told this story:

“I once saw some pigs following a man down the main street of a town and right into the slaughterhouse. I asked how he got those pigs to follow him, since pigs are impossible to drive or herd. The man said, ‘Didn’t you notice the bag of beans I had under my arm? I knew they wouldn’t follow me, but I also knew they loved beans, so I just let them fall from the bag as I walked. Those pigs were so intent on eating beans they never noticed they were headed straight to the slaughterhouse.’”

Out of all those at the meeting, the preacher looked directly at this young man and said, “And this is exactly the way the devil is leading you to the slaughterhouse of hell! He knows exactly how to tempt you down “the broad road that leads to destruction” (Mt. 7:13). His sin-beans that satisfy your taste for the moment are leading you to hell. And one of these days you’ll go after that last bean just as the gates of hell slam shut behind you!”

This illustration of how the devil works really got to that young man. He suddenly saw what his future would be if he continued on his present course, and he gave his life to Christ. Why? Because God, “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9), opened his eyes to Satan’s ways. With his eyes wide open, now he could clearly see that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).

How about you? We hope that this story and our Features will open your eyes to Satan, his demons and his ways.

By Larry Ondrejack