Beware the Good Ol’ Days - Greg Laurie Daily Devotion - October 22, 2015
Beware the Good Ol’ Days
And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. - (2 Peter 2:20)
After you’ve been a Christian for a number of years, the Devil will say, Remember the good ol’ days? . . . Remember those parties? . . . Remember that one girl (or that one guy)? . . . Remember that one night?
But what he won’t say is, Remember that time you were throwing up everywhere? . . . Remember that time you got that DUI? . . . Remember that time you actually contemplated suicide? He will take a few good times and bring them to your memory, and then he’ll say, Wouldn’t it be fun to do that one more time?
The first step toward going back is looking back. That is what the children of Israel were doing after God delivered them from their slavery in Egypt. They said, “Oh, for some meat!” . . . “We remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic we wanted. But now our appetites are gone. All we ever see is this manna!” (Numbers 11:4–6).
That is one reason we need to study the book of Numbers. Believers who are living in the last days will face many of the same temptations and challenges as the children of Israel did. The Scriptures warn us that if we go back to those things of the past as the Israelites did, it will be worse than it ever was (see 2 Peter 2:20). It will turn bitter in our mouths.
When you go back to your old life before Christ, it is like a dog that returns to its vomit (see Proverbs 26:11). It will be worse than it was before. Don’t go there—either in person or mentally. Don’t look back. Put it behind you.
Copyright © 2015 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org
and
Listen to Greg Laurie's daily broadcast on OnePlace.com.
Watch Greg Laurie's weekly television broadcast on LightSource.com.
SPECIAL OFFER
Why do we long for happiness? Is God happy? Why does happiness matter?
In Happiness, noted theologian Randy Alcorn dispels centuries of misconceptions about happiness and provides indisputable proof that God not only wants us to be happy, He commands it. The most definitive study on the subject of happiness to date, this book is a paradigm-shifting wake-up call for the church and Christians everywhere.
Included with your order is a booklet to share with others! It’s called God’s Promise of Happiness.
These resources are our gift to you when you make a donation to Harvest Ministries this month.