Satan’s Summer Success Season

Blue skies and warmer temperatures are finally making more regular appearances here in the Pacific Northwest. Just about every good thing, though, has some way for Satan to make something bad out of it. In order that we will not be ignorant of Satan’s schemes [2 Corinthians 2:11], let us think about some of the obstacles he throws in our paths during the summer season.

1. The way we dress: The Lord wants his people to dress in a way which honors their bodies and shows respect to the ideals of holiness and Christian morality. Satan, on the other hand, wants people to wear as little as possible because he knows that lust is sinful thinking [Matthew 5:27-28]. He also knows that dressing in a way that provokes lustful thoughts in others makes you a participant in that sin. At the first sign of sunny weather, some people begin appearing in public in skimpy attire. Satan scores a success whenever he entices a Christian to join in and follow the trend to show as much skin as possible.

2. The way we act: Summer is a time when it is more pleasant to travel on vacations and other trips to faraway places. Some people leave their convictions about moral behavior behind when they get out of town. After all, “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas,” right? Wrong! The Lord knows everything we do wherever we are. Everything needs to be done in the name of Christ [Colossians 3:17]. It is never right to do wrong, no matter where you are or what people around you are doing.

3. Obligations to God are neglected because we want to take advantage of good weather to participate in all the summer sports, recreation, and cultural activities. Most of these activities are fine within themselves. There is nothing wrong with camping, fishing, going to ball games and the like. They become wrong only when we do these things instead of doing what we ought to be doing in service to God. It is wrong for us to miss worship assemblies of the church because we have chosen to do something else. It is wrong to neglect prayer, Bible study, and helping other people because we are so busy with the fun activities of summer. Whenever we let that happen, Satan wins!