But I am afraid that your minds will be led away from your true and pure following of Christ just as Eve was tricked by the snake with his evil ways.
You are very patient with anyone who comes to you and preaches a different Jesus from the one we preached. You are very willing to accept a spirit or gospel that is different from the Spirit and Good News you received from us.
2 Corinthians 11:3-4 (NCV)
We live in Satan’s war zone. Sure, we like to think it’s paradise, and we strive to carve out our own mini paradises here on earth. Paradises that overflow with comfort and convenience and health and happiness. That’s the good life—when all is right with our world and our joys outnumber our problems, and the problems we do have feel small. Most of us desperately seek that “paradise”. We crave it, but when it comes, it never seems to stay long. It is so easy for us to forget that we were kicked out of paradise when Adam and Eve chose Satan’s way over God’s. We can’t blame our hearts for trying so hard to get back there. It’s what they crave. It’s what they were created for, and it’s what drives them to seek all that comfort, convenience, health, and happiness.
“The good life” we seek is more than just our longing for heaven. It is deception by the enemy, and it lures us into complacency. When we are comfortable, he asks “Why do you need God?” When convenience surrounds us, he challenges, “Why share God with others, when you can keep all of this to yourself?” When we are healthy, he questions, “Why would you pray when you are strong enough on your own?” When we are happy, he inquires, “What could God possibly give that is any better than this?” When we live “the good life” in America, it is remarkably easy to get lured by the illusion that we live in paradise now. But it’s no paradise. It is a lie that pulls us away from faith and silently, persistently questions our devotion to God. Comfort, convenience, health, and happiness weaken our commitment to Jesus. They make us apathetic and distract us. They become our idols of choice.
Sin reigns and rules this place. Whatever little piece of earth you call home—wherever you live, wherever you work, wherever you go—sin rules all around you. And when it is easy to be misled and lured away from Jesus, sin will rule you, too. Don’t settle for “the good life” when you can have “the BEST life”! The life with Jesus. The life that pursues others, instead of ease. The life that never ends. In this war zone, you need your battle gear (Ephesians 6:11-17). You need to stand firm (Luke 21:19), so you do not get lured away by lies and complacency. Your best life, your paradise, is found in following Jesus and living for Him. Do not be fooled. Just set your heart on heaven, and stand your ground. Spoiler alert—Satan doesn’t win! You are loved!