Satan’s Amusement Park

In the heart of a dark forest, hidden from the world of the living, resides an amusement park unlike any other—Satan’s Amusement Park. It isn’t a place of mere frights or tricks; it is a paradise of forbidden pleasures, designed to indulge every craving. Above is a sign that flickers in crimson light: “Welcome to Sinful Delights.”

No tickets are needed for this amusement park; it’s free admission. Simply an open invitation to step inside. That’s what draws people in. Those who enter find themselves irresistibly drawn to the rides, each one tailored to exploit their deepest vices. People melt away in the warm haze of satisfaction, enjoying all the rides and indulging in unbridled fun, food, and drink for as long as they desire.

And so it goes, day after day, week after week, and month after month. The park is a kingdom of vices, and everyone is a willing subject. The laughter, the screams, the music—it all blends into a symphony of sin that seems to last forever. No one worries about the time because, in Satan’s Amusement Park, there is no closing hour, no warning bell, no sign of the fun coming to an end.

However, all things must eventually end. The guests stagger toward the exit, exhausted yet satisfied. But when exiting, they’re met with the sight of a small, unassuming booth. A figure sits inside, cloaked in shadows, with only the glowing embers of its eyes visible through the darkness. A sign above the booth reads:

“Payment Due Upon Exit.”

Confused, the guests approach, expecting a nominal fee. As they hand over their wallets, the figure behind the booth shakes its head slowly, the embers of its eyes flaring brighter. The evil voice says, “It’s not money I’m after. The rides are free, but the cost is steep.”

One by one, they realize what is being asked of them. The fee is not in dollar bills, but in pieces of themselves. Each one pays their dues with the cost of their soul. Their joy turns to despair as they realize the true price of their pleasures. They leave the park forever marked by their time in Satan’s Amusement Park. The evil voice says, “Thank you for visiting. Come again if you dare.”

Satan’s Amusement Park stands silent once more, waiting, always hungry for the next wave of souls eager to pay the price for their lifestyle of sin and their rejection of Jesus Christ—not at the start, but at the bitter, inevitable end.

Listen closely: Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and charge you more than you are willing to pay. Yes, sin can be enjoyable “for a season.” But payment is always due when you leave Satan’s Amusement Park.

Ephesians 6:11-18 reminds us how to identify and respond to Satan’s game plan against us:

• Satan is constantly scheming against us! (6:11)
• Know who the real enemy is! (6:12)
• We are told to “stand” four times! (6:11, 13, 14)
• We must find our strength in the Lord and His power! (6:10)
• We must guard our hearts, minds, and lives with the full armor of God in Christ Jesus! (6:14-18)

Take heart! “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.”