Be Aware of the Supreme Deceiver (Part 2)

The truth revealed as we read about Hazael also reminds us of David who became so angry and indignant when he heard about the awful behaviors of a rich person described to him by Nathan. Let me refresh your memory of the Biblical narrative.

The Lord directed Nathan to David at which time Nathan told him the following: "There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.

Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him."

David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, "As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this deserves to die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity." Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man!..."

Heart-deception made David quick to condemn another man's sinful deeds and be totally oblivious to his own. Heart-deception told David all was well when God was in actuality displeased with him. Heart-deception blinded David to the digressive state of his own character. Heart-deception so deadened David's soul that he did not realize God's Spirit had departed from him.

The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it?

Perhaps you have read or heard the legend told of a man who believed he was being pursued by a monster. His life was one catastrophe after another. Fire wood cut for the winter some how caught fire, the roof of his barn fell in, his cattle were dying and his land was eroding. The man believed the monster he would see in the dark evening shadows lived in a chasm near his farm and was responsible for his problems.

One night upon seeing the monster he cried out in anguish and attacked the form which in turn grabbed him and they began to wrestle. It was a terrible fight. The man was knocked down many times but managed to rise each time and finally with a great rush of adrenaline he slammed the monster down to the ground pinning it down and griping its throat with his hands. Just as the man drew his knife and prepared to kill this dark, ominous creature, clouds which had hidden a full moon moved and allowed light to shine brightly and the man finally beheld the face of his adversary. The face of the monster was his own.

What lucidly emanates from Scripture is that many of us, like David and Hazael, are not aware of the evil that lurks in our hearts. We do not want to admit, that at any given moment we are capable of committing the vilest of crimes. Yet, all around us are individuals who later, would not have believed they could have committed such horrendous acts. There are so many, many beacons who fell into evil, but who would not have thought it possible beforehand.

So what can be done about this seemingly undefeatable foe? What is the remedy? What is the cure? Is there any power to break the delusion; to expel the poison and save the soul?

Of course. God in His loving kindness and mercy provided us with the cure. He sent us a heart specialist; an expert in cardiovascular disease. He is the balm in Gilead. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. His blood is our heart regulator. Nothing can save us from ourselves except the blood of Jesus.

Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, veteran social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach which can be reviewed on her site. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, is expected to be available soon.

You are welcome to visit AMEN Ministries: Your Soul's Service Station for spiritual refreshing, soul edification, browse our newly expanded mini shopping mall or review our recommended books you may want to add to your personal library.

Blessings to all!

Outskirts Press Announces Sustained by Faith, the Latest Highly ... PR.com (press release), NY - 1 hour ago The 5.5 x 8.5 paperback in the Religion/ Spirituality category is available worldwide on book retailer websites such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble for a ...

Apply to become part of Student Spirituality Committee UST Bulletin Today, MN - Dec 1, 2008 Students of all religious traditions are welcome to apply to become part of a new Student Spirituality Committee at St. Thomas. ...

Recovery aided by spirituality Forest Park Review, IL - 5 hours ago By Tom Holmes Every Sunday morning about 20 men and women gather in an upper room on Madison. In some ways the gathering sounds and feels like church. ...

Spirituality, Evidence-Based Medicine, and Alcoholics Anonymous Am J Psychiatry (subscription) - Dec 1, 2008 Spirituality is defined by those deeply felt beliefs that give meaning to a person’s life. Although spirituality can be embodied in a religious orientation, ...

Community Calendar Tiffin Advertiser Tribune, OH - 17 hours ago St. Francis Spirituality Center, 200 St. Francis Ave. "Who Gets Grandma's Yellow Pie Plate?" 10:30 am Learn how to disperse estate possessions before losing ...

Holidays of Spirituality Versus Commercialism First Coast News, FL - Dec 1, 2008 JACKSONVILLE, FL -- In the ongoing debate over holiday commercialism versus spiritualism, many families are looking to spend less money this year on gifts, ...

Spirituality institute to celebrate first 10 years Charleston Gazette,  USA - Nov 28, 2008 The West Virginia Institute for Spirituality will celebrate 10 years of service to the community with an open house from 2 to 4 pm Dec. ... Keeping the faith important in tough times Charleston Gazette all 2 news articles

World's youth value spirituality, yet find few people to talk to Ecumenical News International, Switzerland - 15 hours ago A two-year international study of youth and spirituality reveals respondents view spirituality as an important part of their lives, and most of them rarely ...

The Creative Arts - Where Spirituality and Religiosity Clash Magazine of Santa Clarita, CA - Dec 1, 2008 The creative arts and their expression have always been a crossroads where spirituality and religiosity clash. Christmas Eve 1818 at the church of St. ...

Supply-side spirituality World Magazine, NC - Dec 1, 2008 The best way to test economic theory is to go to Wal-Mart. Do people buy more of something when its price drops? Just ask that guy in front of you with a ...