How About Them Apples?

     The Bible doesn't say what kind of fruit it was that Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and brought sin into the world, but tradition says that it was an apple. (See Genesis 1-3). If that's true, I think it must have been a sour apple. It may have tasted good at first, but in the end it turned sour just as its taste turns stomachs.
      Satan still packages sin the same way- it always looks good wrapped in pretty paper with a sweet smell, but in the end it rots in your stomach. "Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel." (Proverbs 20:17) In contrast, Scripture calls us to feast on Jesus and His death and Resurrection that has brought us salvation from sin instead. (See John 6:25-59). "Oh, taste and see that The Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!" (Psalms 34:8) Chew on that for a while. :-)

Killer (song)

As a Halloween and Reformation Day treat, I thought these next two songs would be appropriate. This is sort of my Hell and Heaven suite. The first one is about one of the scariest figures in The Bible- the devil himself! The world paints a lot of false images and ideas about him, but the world doesn't know jack, son. The Bible gives us information about that old serpent throughout its pages and sometimes thinking about his and his demons' evil workings in the world can be more frightening than reading the latest Stephen King thriller. But even though he is a thief, destroyer and killer, we don't need to fear Him when we're in Christ because we know the One who has defeated sin, death, Hell, the demons and the devil. And in the end, his doom is sure- one little word shall fell him.

"Killer"
(parody of "Thriller" by Michael Jackson; copyright by Nathan Ludwick 7/31/2018)
(Genesis 3, Revelation 12, Ephesians 6, Zechariah 3, Matthew 4, Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28, John 8:32-36, Job 1-2, James 4:7, 2 Corinthians 11:3 and 13-15, 1 John 4:4, 2 Corinthians 4:4, John 8:39-47, Luke 10:17-20, John 10:10, Genesis 4:1-7, 1 Peter 5:8-9, 2 Corinthians 6:2, Matthew 16:21-23, Romans 8:11, Romans 10:9-13, Revelation 20, Romans 16:20, Revelation 20:10)

He's closed in his sights and something evil's lurking in the garden
Pumping half-truth/lies, Lucifer's trying to just sow doubts in hearts
Adam and Eve- what terrors will resound after you taste it!
Now Earth's diseased- with horror, look how you bought all the lies
You're penalized!

'Cause he's a killer, thief and liar!
And God's Son's gonna save you from the beast though His heel he'll strike
You know it's written- Genesis line
3:15 prophesies that Christ will crush the snake's head- that's right!

You read some more- bam! Ezekiel shares from where he did come
"You were in Eden- anointed as a guardian cherub"
You chose thug life- you know that this is just in 28, son
You were exiled when there was evil creeping up inside
You're out on your behind

'Cause you were filled with killer pride
O Day Star, son of Dawn- Isaiah chapter 14 writes
You said, "I will be like Most High"
Your flight has been denied because Jehovah's always Most High

The devil's fall-
12 Revelation gives a pass backstage
Third go with Satan in star wars of Heaven- 4th. line
(The demons' side)
Since the dragon's tail swung wide

They're out to get you- those demons and dragon- 17 line
They will possess you unless you take The Saviour's offer now
Now is the time- go 2nd. Corinthians 6:2- it's there
All through The Christ- He'll save you from the terrors of your sin
He'll make you clean

'Cause He was killed for sinners' plight
And Christ's life was restored by Holy Ghost
Romans 8:11- right!
World, there's a killer, thief and liar!
Won't quit 'til out of time- serpent's a-accuser, tempter, imitator angel of light!

Read in 1st. Peter 5:8- right!
The lion roars at your door- 4 Genesis
The 7th. verse mind
World-roaming killer still at large
So let's read Romans line 16 verse 20- God wins!

(Background vocals: He's gonna school him- that's right!)

(Spoken:)
Dark forces trawl across the land
The midnight hour draws closer at hand
(Since) devil's fall, he's out for blood
To tempt mankind- call evil good
And whosoever shall be found
Without their soul's name written down
In Lamb's Book of Life- they're bound for hell
Those bought by Christ- to joy eternal

(Background vocals: I'm in The Lamb's Book of Life! Will ya be?)

(Spoken:)
Look out! Resist temptings- (and) beware!
He'll run as 4:7 James shares
1 Peter too- Read 5:9- boom!
The God within you's greater too!
And though snake fights to sway your mind
Adversary's marked for Gehenna
For more, read John's Apocalypse
'Cause He will burn forever!

(Ah ha ha ha!)
(Laughter and fade)
...........................................

Temptation Lies (song)

[Note: I'm dusting one off from the archives here. I eventually hope to transfer older writings and songs all to one central location on the blog (as I have a lot of songs and poems and devotional pieces, etc. that I've previously posted in other venues). In keeping with my most recent confessional post, I thought it would be appropriate to post this little parody song I wrote a few years back. It's still one of my favorites. :-) Enjoy this one from the grass roots movement I'm trying to do with this blog. ;-)] And this one is a 1960s classic here. Too many times we let temptation slide in and take over- it looks so good for food and it will make us so wise- or so thought Eve anyway. But Hebrews 12:15 says to see to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Jude 1:12 describes some guys who are uprooted because they turned away from the Gospel of grace and turned it into a license for immorality. Should we sin so that grace will abound? By no means! We must hold to Christ who can deliver us from every temptation because His eyes saw it all and yet He resisted each one- and thus gives us the strength to overcome it too. Sin can look fun sometimes- but temptation lies! “Temptation Lies” (parody of “Temptation Eyes” by The Grass Roots; copyright by Nathan Ludwick 1/9/2011) (Romans 8:37, 1 Peter 2:11-12, Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:9-13, Luke 4:1-13, 2 Corinthians 10:4, Romans 12:1-2, Genesis 4, Romans 7, 1 Corinthians 10:13, James 4:7-8, Ephesians 6, Romans 6:14, 1 Peter 5:8-9, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, Hebrews 12:15, Jude 1:12) Secret pet sin That lures my soul And You know- Don’t want to love it And sin lets me down every time Remake my mind In Romans (7:25) seven two five Old me- sin seems so inviting Don’t want to fall- Jesus, help! Chorus ………… Oh, temptation lies Looking for my, my, my soul (Well,) Temptation lies- it’s got me lusting Got to shove it aside (God, please help me escape it- yeah!) Sin’s wide-eyed innocence - A masquerade Cherub’s no saint Instead it’s Satan He’s got a way to keep me compromised It’s just a ride And he’s got Turkish Delight Old me- sin seems so inviting Don’t want to fall- Jesus, help! (Repeat Chorus) (I see it now) It’s right with me Sin and good still fighting Don’t have to fall- Romans 6! (Repeat Chorus) Temptation lies Looking for my, my, my soul (Well,) Temptation lies (1) One Corinthians 10- read 13 tonight ………………………………………………………..