Matthew 4:8-9 Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me”( NLT).
Recently, I was teaching some adolescents and teenagers about the temptations of Christ. I have read and taught this popular story severally but I had a deeper insight while teaching in that class.
The third temptation Satan brought before Christ was a very subtle and smart one. He showed Christ the kingdoms of this world and their glories. At that point, he was trying to stir in Christ the admiration for those things that appeal to the eyes. He employed the power of visual appeal.
We didn't not know the number of minutes/hours this particular temptation lasted. It is obvious Christ saw the very things Satan showed to him by looking and he was tempted. If he wasn't tempted, he wouldn't have rebuked Satan thereafter. Moreso, the bible says Satan tempted him. He demanded worship from Christ but he rebuked him.
It isn't easy to fix our gaze on the beauties of this world, the materials in it and the things that gives pleasure and pride without being tempted. Whenever Satan want to distract us from that narrow path, he employs the power of visual appeal to make us focus steadily on what he wants us to see and then he will demand worship before releasing those things. This is the trap he sets for anyone who doesn't care what it takes to have worldly things.
The lust for material things may be supported with several scriptures to back it up yet God sees it as giving worship to Satan. In Luke 12:15, the bible says, "Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions”( NIV).
Satan may not know our hearts but he knows our disposition to worldly and material things. The moment he perceives that inordinate desire for the glories and beauties of this world, he will demand for worship.
Today, people worship Satan not necesarily in a shrine but right in their hearts because they want to have the things he can offer. Daily, they sacrifice to Satan in their hearts and keep pledging allegiance to him just to have the glories of this world. That is the reason for many compromise we see around today.
Stop beholding the glories and beauties of this world. Don't fix your gaze on them lest you give worship to Satan. The bible says, "Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth"(Colossians 3:1-2 NLT).
Father, open my eyes to see the glories of heaven and help me to fix my gaze continually on you not on worldly things in Jesus name.