HAVE YOU MADE THE TRUTH YOUR OWN?

TO BE a true Christian in these last days -these "critical times hard to deal with" -is not easy. ( 2 Timothy 3:1) The fact is that to follow Christ's example, one must conquer the world. ( 1 John 5:4) Recall what Jesus said about the Christian way: "Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going through it; whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it." He also said: "If anyone wants to come after me, let him disown himself and pick up his torture stake day after day and follow me continually." - Matthew 7:13, 14; Luke 9:23.

Having found the cramped road to life, a Christian's next challenge is to stay on it. Why is that a challenge? It is because our dedication and baptism makes us a target of Satan's crafty acts, or subtle machinations. (Ephesians 6:11; ) He takes note of our weaknesses and seeks to exploit them in an effort to subvert our spirituality. After all, he attempted to break down Jesus, so why should he leave us alone? -Matthew 4:1-11.

Next time: Satan's Crafty Tactics

Watchtower, 2001