“Because it is impossible to make hell attractive, the devil makes the road that leads there deceptively appealing.”
Lesson #1- Fishing lures all have one major thing in common: the HOOK. No matter how large or small, or cheap or costly the lure may be, each and every one of them have either a HOOK or HOOKS. Why? The purpose of the fishing lure is to HOOK a fish solidly enough that it cannot escape and can therefore end up on the fisherman’s dinner plate; the fish goes from free and alive, to trapped and dead and delicious.
Point? 1 Peter 5:8 “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
Followers of Christ are warned to seriously watch out for the devil. Why? Satan has one objective every day for each believer: HOOK you. Notice this warning wasn’t given to unbelievers, but rather to believers. Very, very carefully watch out for HOOKS.
Lesson #2- Every effective fishing lure makes it very difficult for the fish to keep its attention on the HOOK. How? Some hide the HOOK inside the lure, others use some form of camouflage, some use sound to distract the fish, motion/vibration are often used and colors are almost always used in some way on every lure to deceive the fish.
Point? James 1:14-15 “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”
Satan has been forbidden to kidnap us against our will. John 10:28 However, he has been permitted to use “temptation”, using something or someone “outside” of Christ’s hands of safety, to lure us into foolishly wandering. Everything outside of Christ has a HOOK in it; same is true for every person outside of Christ. Remember, HOOKS have only one objective and they are never easily visible.
Lesson #3- Almost all of the research and development dollars spent by lure manufacturers, focus on everything about the lure except the HOOK; it receives very little money or attention. Why? The HOOK is simple and cheap. Problem? Fish will seldom ever bite a bare hook. Therefore, R&D time and money aims at decorating the unappealing HOOK and/or distracting the fish from seeing it.
Point? Genesis 25:29-34 “… Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.”
Which is more valuable: a birthright or a bowl of stew and some bread? Even a child knows the answer. Why didn’t Esau realize that? His overwhelming hunger blinded his thinking for one moment and he was HOOKED; he sold his birthright.
Conclusion: 1 John 2:15-16 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.”
A fish that ignores the HOOK will end up in the frying pan. A believer who ignores their worldly desires of the flesh and eyes is in serious danger; same is true for overlooking the peril posed by pride. Therefore, “Be alert and of sober mind.” God bless.
