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Right
Under Our Noses
Soviet
leader Nikita Khrushchev used to tell of a time when
there was a wave of petty theft in the
Soviet Union
. To curtail this problem, the authorities posted
guards around the factories. At one timber works in
Leningrad
, the guard knew the workers in the factory very well.
The first evening, out came Pyotr Petrovich pushing a
wheelbarrow and, on the wheelbarrow, a great bulky
sack with a suspicious-looking object inside.
“All
right, Petrovich,” said the guard, “what have you
got there?” “Oh, just sawdust and shavings,”
Petrovich replied.
“Come
on,” the guard said, “I wasn’t born yesterday.
Tip it out.” And out came nothing but sawdust and
shavings. So he was allowed to put it all back again
and go home. When the same thing happened every night
of the week the guard became frustrated. Finally, his
curiosity overcame his frustration.
“Petrovich,”
he said, “I know you. Tell me what you’re
smuggling out of here, and I’ll let you go.” “Wheelbarrows,
my friend,” said Petrovich, “wheelbarrows.”
*
The
wheelbarrow incident reminds us of how easily YOU and
I can become easily distracted by things that are
trivial and lose things of tremendous value.
This is one of Satan’s greatest weapons
against us. He
tempts us to focus on those things that are temporary
and sensual (the things of the world, 1 John 2:15-16),
so that we will neglect the eternal and spiritual (the
things of God, 1 John 2:17; 2 Corinthians 4:18).
While we are examining the worthless sack
of wood chips and shavings, the devil is smuggling
wheelbarrows!
What
Satan seeks most to “rob” from us is a saving
relationship with God.
This relationship has been made possible
through the Gift of God’s Son who died on the cross
to save us from our sins (Ephesians 1:7).
God has promised to redeem those who believe
in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sin in repentance
(Acts 17:30-31), confess
Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized
(immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins
(Acts 2:38). And,
those who continue to follow the Heavenly Father
faithfully will be given an eternal home with Him in
heaven (Revelation 2:10).
Don’t
let Satan rob YOU of your
opportunity of eternal salvation through Christ.
Don’t
be distracted....
Give attention to those things that are
eternal! Submit
to the Savior today!
David
A. Sargent,
Minister
Church
of Christ at Creekwood
1901
Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama 36695
* Quoted in
The Devil’s Gauntlet, Os Guiness
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