Satan's Dollar Store

Satan is the owner of a special kind of “Dollar Store,” filled with all kinds of unnecessary plastic objects and worthless trinkets and trappings. His advertising claims he offers great values and incredible experiences at bargain prices – he is under no compunction to tell the truth, so he simply lies about the true cost to us – yet we believe him. Our first mistake is walking into his “store.” Perhaps it is curiosity; perhaps it is our fleshly, worldly desire; perhaps it is lies we already believe. He doesn’t care why we come – he only cares that we are there for him to influence, and that we bring our greatest prize, the “jewel” of our God-given nature, which we willingly trade for Satan’s wares.

Imagine taking a beautiful, priceless, one-of-a-kind jewel, like a flawless diamond, and using that gem to buy cheap garbage at the dollar store. You would never consider doing such a thing!!! Would you?

Actually, you may be doing the equivalent right now. Without realizing the value of what God has given you (the treasure of who you are), you may be trading it in to the enemy in exchange for a few cheap thrills, momentary pleasure, the acceptance or approval of others, and things which are of no benefit or gain in the long run. You may be cluttering up your “house” (heart) with a whole load of dollar store fluff – while you are ignoring the presence and love of Jesus. For once you enter Satan’s “store” of darkness, you quickly lose sight of what really matters. You can no longer see (in that darkness) the true worth of what you are being shown. He entices you with cheap, fake costume jewelry – and you have so devalued your own precious gem within you that you willingly trade it in for the glitter and glitz of Satan’s offerings.

Our last and fatal mistake is buying into Satan’s contention that what he offers us is good for us in some way, instead of resulting in our destruction. So not only does he entice us with worthless nothings, he conceals some type of slow-acting poison within the trinkets we have bought – almost like they are radioactive, and we slowly over time die in our spirits.

Consider the cost. Remember the value of God’s wonderful gift to you. Because there has never been before, and there never will be again, another YOU. Nothing that Satan has to offer is worth that price.

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:44-46.

What Do You Value?

What is it you value? Money? Power? Approval? Self-preservation? Security? Status? Pleasure? An easy road? Avoiding pain? If you are unsure of the answer, pay attention to where you spend the majority of your energy and time. Also, notice where your thoughts are focused.

Jesus taught us to value one thing above all else: love. Matthew 22: 36-40 shows us this value in His response to a question from the Pharisees:
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

In this response, Jesus presents the values by which He would have us live. He also tells us His values and how He lives. Of course, He demonstrated this value to us when He gave up His life so that we may live. The cross represents this value to us each and every day. What we may easily forget is that He still lives according to these values. Everything He does with us and speaks to us is based on His love for us.

Paul offers us a list of values: “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and temperance. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Paul’s list begins with, of course, the one Jesus prized most highly. The rest of the list flows out of love, as Jesus taught in His response to that most important question. Consider this: this entire list deals with matters of the heart. Nothing of the worldly realm (meaning those things that are not found within the heart) is mentioned as a value or “fruit” of the Spirit. Why is that?

Jesus teaches us this answer also, in Matthew 6:
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Jesus knows that all worldly things, including such illusions as power and control, security and self-preservation, and status and approval, are subject to the rules of the world. The law of physics called “entropy” tells us that all worldly things tend toward chaos and destruction. Only “treasures” in heaven (and remember, the heart is the kingdom of God within us – where the Holy Spirit resides) are not subject to this law. As Paul says, “against such things there is no law.”

So, with the help of Jesus, may we reject all worldly values and accept His values and live by them: “…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2). May we, with His help, fix our eyes upon Him – and upon His love for us. And may we allow the fruit of His presence within our hearts to direct our course in this life. Amen.