The Wolf And The Easter Eggs...
I played a game when I was a child. I had to Google it to
find out what it’s called. *A minute of
silence for the awesomeness of Google* Apparently
the game is called “who’s it". I grew up in Nigeria, and I’m pretty sure I had no clue about the words, and I may not have called it Easter eggs, probably ‘an assistant egg’… but what’s the point in shaming my awesome self at this
stage… I mean “sandalili’ anyone?
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Back to the game. Everyone in the game was an ‘Easter egg’
residing in a big circle drawn in the sand. Each player chose an egg
color to represent. Standing within that circle was our safety from the big bad wolf that
was played by an unfortunate person. Mr.
wolf wasn’t in on our picking colors, so he had no clue who represented what.
It was his/her job to call random colors and be lucky enough to get a color in
the group. The game went like this…
Mr. wolf: Knock knock knock
Easter eggs: Who’s it?
Mr. Wolf: Mr. Wolf
Easter eggs: What do you want?
Mr. wolf: An Easter egg
Easter eggs: What color?
Mr. Wolf: Color green
Easter eggs: (screaming) NO GREEN (relieved that you haven’t
been picked)
And he’d call out more colors.... It would go on like this till
he gets to a color that actually belongs to someone in the circle, like red or
blue and the unfortunate color blue would have to step out of the circle and
try to outplay the big bad wolf as he chases after you… you do all you can to avoid
being tagged till you can find your way back into the circle, then you’re safe. But if he gets you, you become the wolf. No one enjoyed being the wolf, or
rather, I hated running so I never enjoyed being the wolf, I just enjoyed
staying in the safety of the circle and cheering any Easter egg who was unfortunate
to be the called on.
The circle was our safe place against the wolf. As long as
we were in there, the big bad wolf could only talk to us and try to lure us out
with our color.
Some times, the devil comes knocking like the wolf, and
sometimes we feel like we’re smarter than he is, thus we answer him when he knocks and engage him in conversations instead of sharp retorts, we roll over what he says in our head, thinking how not so bad it sounds. We are smarter than he is, but his cunning shouldn’t be
taken for granted… once he sees you’ve asked “what do you want?” after he’s told you who he is, once you don’t
shut the door in his face immediately, he brings out all he’s got till he gets
what he wants.
Devil: Knock Knock Knock
You: Who’s it?
Devil: Mr. Sexy and You know it… Let’s go on a date, I'll marry you lonely lady.
You: Sorry, no unequally yoked sexy brother can get me out
of the presence of God; I’m staying in His shelter.
Devil: How about some greed. You know you need a new pack of
weave, from the new shipment from Brazil, and you really need a day at the spa,
hope you remember your favorite online store is going on sale this month…
forfeit tithing for a little bit or date the brother for a week or two, he's loaded and will pay for the luxuries. Satisfy the material goddess in you and feel
like a queen in your new hair and shoes.
You: Sorry, I’d rather forfeit some of these things till I
can afford them myself
And he thinks, and comes back again, and again, calling out all
sorts of temptations to you till he hits the spot… James 1:14-15 says “Temptation comes from our own desires,
which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions.
And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.” Thus the devil knows what spot to hit when you give him an
inch when he comes knocking. Maybe nothing as drastic, but something as subtle
as a memory from your past that stirs up hate and bitterness towards someone, that’s
where the chase begins, the chase of temptation to fall, you step out from
under the shadow of the Almighty, because you answered his call of
unforgiveness, bitterness and anger.
Like the game, once you’re out of that safety, know the devil
is coming for the kill, but you don’t have to die so Run!!! Run back to that safe
circle where you dwelled in before you were lured out. Find your way back to
your father’s arms as fast as you can. The only place that saves you from the
death of sin. “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to
it and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10
Choose to abide in God's presence… don’t give
the devil room to argue with you. Once you hear him knock and you peek to see him
smiling and asking for color green, give a sharp retort “No green, get the hell out of here, we don’t want you, we wouldn’t
serve you any color even if we had it… stop lurking, we’re not listeningggggg….
We’re praising so loud, we’re drowning out your voice” That should keep him
away for a while, doesn’t mean he wouldn’t try again, but keep shutting him up
as many times as he comes knocking, even before he feeds you with what your flesh has a weakness for. The shelter of God is too safe to risk
stepping out for a game of tag with the devil. Remember, if you’ve been lured away, you can always run back to the shelter before your sin kills you.
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most HighShall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;My God, in Him I will trust.”Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowlerAnd from the perilous pestilence.He shall cover you with His feathers,And under His wings you shall take refuge;His truth shall be your shield and buckler.You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,Nor of the arrow that flies by day,Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.A thousand may fall at your side,And ten thousand at your right hand;But it shall not come near you.Only with your eyes shall you look,And see the reward of the wicked.Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,Even the Most High, your dwelling place,No evil shall befall you,Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;For He shall give His angels charge over you,To keep you in all your ways.In their hands they shall bear you up,Lest you dash your foot against a stone.You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;I will set him on high, because he has known My name.He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;I will be with him in trouble;I will deliver him and honor him.With long life I will satisfy him,And show him My salvation.” Psalm 91
The devil has no other mission but to steal, to kill and to destroy. 1Peter 5:8 "Be sober-mindful; be watchful. Your adversary the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" Whatever he offers mite look beautiful n an irresistible one at dat but they are only clothed wt deceptio and lies. Your post relates deep into our day to day encounters. God bless you.
ReplyDeleteThe devil is very cunning, we should not even bother engaging him. This reminds me of a song Dan Foster used to play on cool fm in the early 2000s. "Shut the door, keep out the devil..."
ReplyDeleteActually pronounced this way
Shut de do, keep out de devil
Shut de do, keep de devil in the night.
Shut de do, keep out de devil
Light de candle, everything is alright
Light de candle, everything is alright
Dear Lord, I ask for strength to keep shutting the devil out of my affairs, strength to run back into your safety when I am out and down.
ReplyDeleteLooks very perfect article!
ReplyDelete