The Yard Sale

One afternoon, Satan was having a yard sale. On several tables, he spread out all of his favorite tools and placed prices on each one of them. The first buyer purchased a sparkling, well-kept tool labeled “anger” for $200. The second buyer bought a slightly worn “jealousy” tool for $350. The third buyer purchased the well-used “lust” tool for $1,000. All day long, people came and went.

Near the end of the day, a man saw an old tool lying on a table in the back row all by itself. It was rusted and worn, the hinges squeaked, and the handle was partly broken, but the price tag was exorbitant. The asking price was $1 million.

The prospective buyer asked Satan, “Why is this tool so costly?”

“Ahh,” replied Satan, “that is my most effective, powerful, and often-used weapon—and I hesitate to let it go. I’ve learned that Christians can eventually get over almost all of my other tools. They can recover from lust, greed, anger, jealousy, and envy. However, this tool works quietly, without them being aware I am using it. I can slip it in and keep them defeated for a lifetime.”

“What is the name of the tool?” the buyer asked.

“The tool is ‘Discouragement,'” Satan hissed. “I remind them of their sins, their past, and their failures. I remind them how weak they truly are, and they never even know what I am doing.”

Listen closely: do not allow Satan to continue using this tool against you. Rather, we must have the same attitude as Paul: “I press on!” Your sins and failures have been forgiven. You’ve been bought with a price. The power of sin no longer reigns over you. Christ is your strength where you are weak! If you have received Jesus by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, then you are a child of the living God. No weapon formed against you will prosper. Satan is a liar and the father of lies. Your old life has been nailed to the cross, and all of your past, present, and future sins have been “Paid in Full.” It is finished!

When Satan reminds you of your past, you remind him of his future. “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things here below.” Lock eyes with Jesus and walk towards Him.

Live in victory today!