Got gods? What's your pleasure?

We all know the scenario. We saw it on the show The Twilight Zone. For success in life the man signs a contract with the devil that when he dies, his soul is transferred to Satan. Few would consciously do such a thing, but sub-consciously it's done all the time! Those who sell their souls don't take the contract seriously. It is supposed that even if the Devil is rewarded in the deal that somehow God will step in and pay the fine.

This is wrong thinking! First off, the fine is already paid:

Romans 3:23  "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;"

 That's a mouthful! The main point is that Jesus has already paid that fine. The Devil's deal is already canceled for all have made the deal! The fine was paid with the currency of "blood" washing away our own sins; and voiding the deal we made with the devil.

So we have it. We all made a contract with the devil whether we did it without thinking or not. Some do it on purpose, but others are entrapped. Bob Dylan has been taped confessing that his fame was a deal with the devil. You did that too, but just fail to admit it! Whatever! Jesus has already bailed us out, so to speak, because he was security for our bond. There's one caveat. In order to be freed from the Devil's deal, a new deal must be made!  In order to cancel the Devil's contract a more binding contract must be made. This one is not to be made lightly, but with thoughtful consideration!

With the Devil there was a contract of two parts. For your success, pleasure, power or whatever; the Devil granted your heart's desire, but you, the party of the second part owe him big time. For his backing you, it's your soul which is required of you. Slavery for eternity is the price of success! Not only that, but the task masters are vicious thugs and the climate's unbearable. You will suffer as you thirst with not a chance to even wet your tongue. Is that a good deal? Not so, but most will sign that contract!

However, the contract we make with Jesus requires payment from only the party of the first part!  The ransom was made for free.You have been redeemed with security because you've been released on your own recognizance!

Romans 5:17 (ESV) "For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ."

God's deal doesn't enslave. It frees from slavery and those redeemed have freedom!  You didn't even have to love God to gain your freedom. He was gracious enough to pick you up when you were down. You are now free on your own recognizance! You didn't pay the price for freedom with your love, but because of God's grace in freeing you, your "recognizance" is that you now love him! Let's get real! We'll shift for a second from scripture to your own heart! Did you submit to Christ because you love him, or to save your own miserable skin? I wanted to be saved, but because Christ paid the price, I love him for it! It may be a matter of perspective, but if salvation was a gift, we certainly didn't pay for it. That would be a bribe and the "judge" cannot be swayed by petty offerings!

Have you yet admitted it? Did you accidentally sign a contract? I did. I sold my soul for pleasure. I've done things to please me that were wrong. I also included in the package a little pocket change. I have stolen from another! I deserve my sentence, but since it was already paid, I love the "man" who paid it! Thank you Lord for breaking the deal I made with the Devil!

Our pleasure is our God unless we love Jesus!  What's your pleasure? I have noticed that many many Christians pleasure in the entertainment offered by the world more than the joy promised by God. Millions sway at the temple of pleasure at rock music concerts. Others habitually watch trash T.V. Rather than relishing the word spoken by God most quote the uneducated rantings of popular entertainers. You're easy too! They just insert their message in the songs they sing, and you don't even care! They're words that denigrate the Savior, disrespect authorities and propagate evil! Look at the latest purveyor of trash, Beyonce'.  In her own words she's controlled by ascended masters in the form of Sasha Fierce, yet many still idolize her! What's your pleasure again? Who's your god? Oh, not Beyonce'. Perhaps one of those who claimed that "we're now greater than Christ!"

I've been accused of living in a "narrow little world". I wish I really did, but my world is still wider than I want. "Narrow Worlds" are entered by narrow gates:

Matthew 7:13  (ESV) “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."

I've found the gate. It was that new deal offered by Jesus! However, on my own recognizance I'm a changed man. I now love the One I once rejected. Oh, not outright! My rejection was lukewarm! I wanted to keep my fire insurance, but attend the burning at the same time. I was neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm. That's as vomit to God. Most things I don't do anymore because I love him. Pleasure still drags on Christians because redemption doesn't make the criminal perfect, just free! We're expected to be good citizens in the Kingdom of God because we want to please the King. If the redeemed person has not changed, did he truly want deliverance from the Devil's deal or was he playing two hands? That's the fear of those who confess to be a new person, but living for the Devil just as did the old one!

Think about your own god. Is it wealth?Power? Pleasure? Gods are things placed "before" God. The First Commandment doesn't mean "in front of God", but "along with God" It seems that man has always wanted to serve two masters!

Matthew 6:24  "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (possessions)."

"Mammon" would be your pleasures. It's things which stand between you and God! Face it! Does a Christian feel good about being at a rock concert with flagrant sin? Does a Christian feel good sitting in a prurient movie with vile language? If so, are we showing our love for the redeemer? Are we living well in our own recognizance?

Don't forget: Pleasure comes in the form of marijuana, booze, pills and narcotics too! They are some of the strongest gods.

Got gods? I hope not! Got God? Check your love.