So far we’ve determined:

Who are you? Made in the very image of God, you have been given life and told as a Christian that you are salt and light, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a peculiar people, the temple of God.

What are you? A child and servant of God and all that entails. Your time. Your efforts on His behalf. The entirety of every minute of every day of the life that God has given you.

Now the question: When are you?

Someone said that this is the worst time ever for a Christian to be alive. So much sin. So much evil. So discouraging every minute of every day.

Do you think that the times we live in today are the evilest that’s ever been on the face of this earth?

Thus the question: When are you?

Oh, for the good old days! We always talk about them and think about them, don’t we?

Believe it or not there was a time when families sat together around a radio and listened to radio shows like Gunsmoke, The Lone Ranger, Suspense, Bing Crosby, and thousands more.

Believe it or not, there was a time my parents would give me $1.00 and drop me off at the Capital Theatre in Newport, Arkansas on Saturday afternoon and I enjoyed a double feature, cartoons, coming attractions and food…with money left over. Today you wouldn’t dream of such.

I remember a time when you used to get only three television stations on your black and white television and you just let someone utter a curse word on one of the shows (which today isn’t even considered a curse word), and the phone would ring for days from those offended. Oh how America has truly lost its innocence.

Despite all of the sin and degradation that’s around us. Despite instant access to filth in our own homes at the touch of a switch or click of a mouse. Despite all the darts that Satan hurls every minute of the day…there is nothing new going on.

The smartest person on the face of the earth, whoever he or she is, you would think you could learn a lot from them, wouldn’t you?

Well, his name was Solomon.

God asked him what he wanted and he asked for wisdom, and God gave him wisdom and he has given us lessons on life in an Old Testament book which Solomon wrote called Ecclesiastes. We would all do well to read it. Memorize it. Consider its lessons. Utilize it in our lives as servants of God, especially when it comes to “When Are You”…when you are living. In regards to the state of this world today.

Hear Solomon’s words…

The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there anything whereof it may be said, see, this is new? It hath been already of old time, which was before us.

— Ecclesiastes 1:9-10

Solomon says that in his life he did everything he wanted to do, that he held nothing back:

I said in mine heart, go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and behold, this also is vanity. I said of laughter, it is mad: and of mirth, what doeth it? I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of man, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards; I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruits: I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had labored to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

— Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

— Ecclesiastes 3:14

All go unto one place; and all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

— Ecclesiastes 3:20

Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God: for God is in heaven and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words. When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better it is that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.

— Ecclesiastes 5:2-7

As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

— Ecclesiastes 5:15

For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? For who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

— Ecclesiastes 6:12

A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.

— Ecclesiastes 7:1

Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

— Ecclesiastes 7:29

Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment. Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be? There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.

— Ecclesiastes 8:5-8

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave whither thou goest. I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.

— Ecclesiastes 9:10-12

As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

— Ecclesiastes 11:5

A quick synopsis of what Solomon said…

Nothing new here.

I did it all.

All go to dust.

Keep your vows to God.

You brought nothing into the world; you’re not taking anything out.

Life is brief. You are a shadow.

The day of your death is better than the day of your birth.

God made man upright. Man made many inventions.

You have no power in the day of death.

Time and chance happens to all. If time doesn’t get you through old age or disease, chance will. You’ll be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

God knows all.

Solomon’s own synopsis after all is said and done:

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

— Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

Remember now, this is the wisest man who ever lived, whose wisdom came from God, after all was said and done, giving advice to you and me.

Yet we say, it is worse, it is more evil now than ever before.

Unfortunately, there are so many things getting in our way that are choking God’s word out of our lives!

Despite all of this conundrum of confusion each day, there is truly nothing new under the sun. It’s already been!

The reason the evil and confusion and temptations come into our lives is because they work…..and have for a long time.

Remember the number three. Satan has perfected his appeals to all men through three things…..just like he tried to do with Jesus.

Jesus didn’t fall for it, but we unfortunately do most times because we’ve failed to recognize the three avenues that Satan uses to his advantage.

Let’s go back to the temptation of Jesus by the devil and see if you can find the three areas of temptation Satan used against Jesus. Hint: nothing has changed because they are the exact same things he uses against us today when we are tempted!

TEMPTATION #1: appealing to the LUST OF THE FLESH

Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, if thou be the son of God, command these stones be made bread.

— Matthew 4:1-3

TEMPTATION #2: appealing to the PRIDE OF LIFE

But he answered and said, it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple. And saith unto him, if thou be the son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, he shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

— Matthew 4:5-6

TEMPTATION #3: appealing to the LUST OF THE EYES

Jesus said unto him, it is written again, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and shewed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, all these things will I give thee if thou will fall down and worship me.

— Matthew 4:8-9

Then saith Jesus unto him, get thee hence Satan for it is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him , and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

— Matthew 4:10-11

Three things to ponder here before we move on.

Satan quotes scriptures.

This was not the only time he tempted Christ.

And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

— Luke 4:13

No matter our temptations, Christ suffered through the exact same ones.

For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

— Hebrews 4:15

So then, what did Satan appeal to Jesus through? The same things he’s been using against mankind since time began. Why? Because they work!

The lust of the flesh.

The lust of the eyes.

The pride of life.

And that’s exactly what God told us to guard against in our lives when dealing with the devil and the world…

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.

— I John 2:15-17

Just like Solomon said. Nothing new under the sun.

So what happens to us in regards to the times we live in? Pretty simple. We allow idols to come into our lives. Things that either take significant time away from God, or in many cases, things that take the place of God. Things that keep us busy.

B U S Y: Being Under Satan’s Yoke.

So many conflicts on every side. Things that draw us away from God instead of closer to him.

Satan has moved into the very house we live in to attack us on an almost minute by minute basis.

Think not?

Let’s go back some 60+ years. A dear friend of mine, and mentor, Brother Louis J. Sharp, told me that he could recall a conversation he had with his father the day he bought his first television set.

“Louis,” his father said, “you are moving the devil right into the house with you.”

So let’s take an inventory.

TV? Got one…or two…or three…or more!

The internet…how much access in our homes today that brings the vilest filth in at the click of a mouse!

Cell phone…access to the same filth at the touch of a finger. With us all the time. Day in and out.

And you know what Satan’s doing with all these “modern” tools? He’s doing what he’s always done. Tempting us to sin through the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life.

Entering thoughts which people consider…think about…act on and in many instances try to justify their sinful actions.

Nothing’s changed. Nothing new under the sun.

Satan is your enemy, make no doubt about it!

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

— I Peter 5:8

And what do we do?

We say “Welcome! Come on in!” And what happens as Satan and sin wears you down through various temptations?

It’s like a blister. It hurts for a while, but after a while that blister becomes calloused and we move on. The word of God calls it hardening of the heart.

So some personal examination here.

Whom are you serving: God or Satan?

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

— Matthew 6:24

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

— Matthew 6:21

Where is your treasure?

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

— Matthew 6:33-34

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

— Matthew 7:13-14

From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me; for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

— Matthew 16:21-23

And when we let Satan come into our homes in whatever capacity and allow him to dictate our lives and plant seeds in our minds and those of our children, we truly are not savoring the things that are of God.

Satan sure did it by dividing families and brethren with Covid-19 didn’t he?

A lot of people talk a good line about being a Christian, but few there be of the ones truly converted to Jesus. Truly strong enough to not go the ways of the world in things they watch, read, listen to, think about through Satan’s allurements.

In fact, since God is not obeyed and we savor the things of the world and are not obeying God’s command to flee the very appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22), can we say that we even believe God?

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe and tremble.

— James 2:19

The devils didn’t obey, but they knew the truth well enough to tremble at the thought of the consequences. We know it too, and still sin willfully. Are we in the same category as the devils?

Here’s another frightening thought:

Has Satan entered into you? It’s chilling to even consider the possibility. It’s not without precedent…

Remember when Jesus was eating with his disciples and had revealed to them that one of them would betray him? Watch what God’s word says happens…

Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who it is? Jesus answered, he it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said unto him, that thou doest, do quickly.

— John 13:24-27

Satan entered into him.

Horrifying.

Consider yourselves.

Satan is smart. He quoted scriptures to Jesus during the wilderness temptation. Does he know more scriptures than you?

Are you, as a Christian, willfully disobedient?

Stay home Sunday, go to work Monday? Wilfully putting Satan and his causes above the one who died to save you from your sins? Which master do you serve? God or Satan?

Has Satan entered you? Like the blister, it hurts at first but not any more?

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

— I Corinthians 6:9-10

Think about this…

Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it.

Right is right even if no one is doing it.

But I know that regardless of when I live on this earth (When are you?) I can overcome anything Satan throws at me with God’s help.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

— Philippians 4:13

And how does he strengthen me? It’s called the way of escape.

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

— 1 Corinthians 10:13

God is faithful to me to provide the escape route. No matter what temptation. No matter when. It’s there. Find the door and get out of Satan’s dominion in your life!

Stop being manipulated by Satan’s media minions that are so abundant.

Hunger and thirst after righteousness.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God and he will draw night to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners. And purify your hearts ye double-minded.

— James 4:7

When are you?

You are living in the middle of a crooked and perverse generation, just like so long ago. So what do you do?

Do all things without murmurings and disputing. That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.

— Philippians 2:14-15

Examine yourselves!

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

— 2 Corinthians 13:5

When Are You?