Pro wrestlers do it. So do politicians. Even in a court of law, people are prone to this.
We yell accusations at one another, flinging insult upon insult to bring each other down.
In his book Trading Places, Steve Wyatt tells about his high school foray into acting. He and another boy wanted the same part. The other boy accused Steve of any number of atrocities, a smear campaign to keep Steve out of the competition.
What the boy didn’t know was that the director already knew he intended to choose Steve. In fact, he’d chosen that particular play with Steve in mind.
Revelation 12:10 tells us:
“And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, ‘Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.’ ”
The evil one tries to accuse us of all sorts of things. We didn’t pray enough for our children. Our failed marriage is our fault. We can only blame ourselves for not getting that promotion, a bigger apartment, or providing for our ailing parent. It’s our fault, our fault, our fault.
God says, “Now hold on, there. Don’t I get a say in what’s happening around here?”
That’s exactly what Steve’s director said. He couldn’t tell Steve he’d already decided who his lead actor was. He could only encourage him not to despair over the other boy’s smear campaign. “Try out, Steve, promise me that. Just hang in there.”
We can’t give up too easily. If we do, the devil wins. Like Steve’s director, Jesus tells us to hold on to our faith in him.
Matthew 24:4-5 gives us his encouraging words:
“And Jesus answered them, ‘See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, “I am the Christ,” and they will lead many astray.’ ”
God has already selected us. He has a part in his grand plan for each of us. No smear campaign by the devil will change his mind. We are God’s elect.
John 5:24 tells us:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed [out of] death to life.”
It’s as simple as that. Sometimes we show up, we audition, and we cross our fingers, hoping to get to heaven. God says, “All you had to do was come to me. I held this place for you in hopes you’d be here.”
Can we get an amen for that?
God’s opinion is the only one that counts, and he says we’re redeemed by the blood of his Son.
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