Independence Day

     Independence.  Today in the United States of America we are celebrating our Independence Day.  It commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. 
     Independence by definition includes freedom from control or influence.  That got me to thinking.  Who controls or influences us?  Control....many times is done by parents, employers, lawmakers.  Influence....often we are influenced by advertisers, celebrities, affluent people.  But there's more. 
     We choose who controls and influences us.  Of course we must abide by laws.  And children must obey their parents.  But again, there is a lot more to it.
     Ephesians 6:12 tells us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world....  The enemy.  The devil.  Just how much influence does he have on us?  How much control? 
     The answer.......just as much as we let him have!  Anybody know how big the devil is?  I do! Just as big as we let him be!  At the encouragement of a friend, I have recently come to realize that the devil, the enemy, the ruler of darkness, is just a tiny, scrawny worm!  He's a dried up little weasel who gets in our minds and influences us.  He tells us he is huge!  He tells us he's got all the power. But he can do NOTHING unless we let him.
      The Word tells us in 2 Timothy 1:7 that God didn't give us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.  Sounds like God gave us what we need to be independent of evil.  But the devil wants us to believe otherwise.  That little worm pokes around in our minds until he finds a place he can sneak in.  If we aren't careful to stay in the Word, that little twerp will start whispering in our ears that he knows best.  That he knows how to make us happy and will give us everything we ever dreamed of if we just do as he says. 
     What's the problem with following the devil?  Well, we become like who controls or influences us.  God gives us a sound mind.  The devil seeks to control our minds.  He is the father of lies.  He's evil but makes us think he's good.  That ole' booger even knows Scripture.  He tried to quote it to Jesus when Jesus went away, fasting and praying for 40 days.  He tried everything he could in order to get Jesus to deny God and follow him.  But Jesus knew that weasel's tricks.  He didn't budge!  He stayed independent of the enemy and his lies!
     Is there anything satan has trapped you with?  Has he tricked you into using God's Word to your advantage even though you live contrary to it?  Are you justifying your sin because it's something you really want and he's convinced you that it's a good thing even though the Bible tells you it's sin? Has he filled your mind with lies and made you think that what you're doing isn't wrong just because it's something you want really badly?  That scrawny worm offers freedom when it's not his to offer!  He offers peace when there is no peace in him.  He offers truth....oh my......It's like ordering something off of TV that looks amazing but when it comes in the mail, the box is tiny, and the amazing offer turns out to be nothing but a scam.
     On the other had, Jesus.  He IS truth!  John 14:6 tells us that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.  He IS truth!!!!!!  The enemy knows that but still tries to influence us.  Are you independent of the enemy?  Would you like to be?  What has that little scum bag told you that you believed and now you are in bondage?  Because if you have listened to him, you are not free.  You are in bondage.  But you don't have to be.
     Want to be independent of that disgusting little worm?  True independence only comes thru obedience to Christ.  Truth, peace and real living only come thru independence from the enemy.  How do we become independent of the enemy?  "Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart.  Lean not on your own understandings.  In ALL your ways acknowledge Him and HE will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6.
     True Independence comes when the bondage of sin is broken.  Freedom only comes in Jesus Christ.  Freedom..."If the Son makes you free, you are free indeed!"  John 8:36.  Independence.  Freedom.  In Jesus.  Do you know Him?  Would you like to?  He will set you free, free indeed.