Not that long ago my wife and I got into a bit of an argument over a comment she made to me in the car. It made the comment that I like fantasy stuff, dragons and wizards. I do not want to be a wizard or a dragon and I certainly do not worship either of them. She quickly jumped up and pointed out that the image for Satan is a Dragon. I mentioned that the Leviathan that is mentioned in the Bible seems like a Dragon.
However, I got pretty mad and proceeded to tell her that just because I see something does not automatically mean that it is going to influence my life. I think of Dragons as creatures that are cool to look at and it does not mean that Satan has somehow influenced me in anyway shape or form to think He is cool, because He is not.
Do not get me, Satan is a formidable enemy that is not to betaken lightly. He has a few tricks that He uses over and over that seem to work on every person at some point in time, but with the help of the Lord, that can be defeated and you will then see the truth.
I understand that my wife was concerned and she has a right to be. The scriptures tell us to be careful about our inputs.
Matthew 6:22-23 New International Version (NIV)
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
1 Corinthians 15:33 New International Version (NIV)
33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
Psalm 101:3 New International Version (NIV)
3 I will not look with approval
on anything that is vile.
I hate what faithless people do;
I will have no part in it.
Ephesians 5:15 New International Version (NIV)
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,
Proverbs 4:23 New International Version (NIV)
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
Romans 12:2 New International Version (NIV)
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
1 John 2:15-17 New International Version (NIV)
On Not Loving the World
15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
There are many more scriptures that tell us to be careful about the inputs, but at the same time we are supposed to be in the world teaching people the truth. How do we accomplish this?
You need to be focused on the Lord and control the direction of influence in your life. Realize that without God you will not be able to accomplish this task. It sounds easy, I will just control what does and does not affect me. However, you are forgetting one important thing and that is Satan. He will do his best to lead you astray which is why you need to focus on the Lord.
I pray that you are able to maintain that focus and when you think you are failing, that you are able to recognize this and seek help from Christ and God. For remember, that Christ is the truth, life, and the way. Plus, if you resist the Devil, He will flee as stated by James.