There was a television show in the early 90s called Touched By An Angel It was based on the supernatural realm and how it intersects with our natural walk. There was one episode where one of the main angels was talking to the devil, and while I don’t remember the whole conversation, I remember the devil’s response:
“I’m not the enemy…I’m the alternative.”
Alternative by definition means CHOICE. Humanity has always had the right to choose. It began, in the beginning. Adam and Eve are in the garden called Eden with nothing but God and the abundance that He provides. The Tree of Life was there. The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was there. They were told NOT to eat of the Tree of Knowledge, but there was no restriction for them to feast on the Tree of Life. Do you suppose that if they had eaten of the Tree of Life FIRST, history would tell a different story? The enemy knew that to be true, so he had to intervene with an alternative–a distraction.
“You will not surely die,” the enemy said to them, “for God knows that when you eat of it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:5
Ah, the Alternative!
When Jesus came to the earth realm as the Son of Man, He already knew His end, the Cross on Golgotha’s hill. The ultimate victory over sin and death came with the empty tomb; however, Christ was championing victories before that culminating event. When He was water baptized at the hands of John and the heavens opened and the Spirit fell on him, and led him immediately into the wilderness (Matthew 3:13-17). During these 40 days he encountered the enemy, offering him what? Alternatives! It was in his overcoming the enemy with the written word of God that gave Christ the strength, endurance and authority to overcome. Christ knew his assignment, purpose and divine timing on the earth. He was here to announce the Kingdom of God and introduce the world to His Father, our Father. Jesus left the wilderness saturated in power, and his ministry laid out the example of a New Creation life in the New Covenant.
What Tree Do You Prefer?
Our culture, especially in the United States of America, is exploding with alternatives. Now, don’t get me wrong, choices are not inherently evil, but evil makes sure that you are distracted with choices. Within each believer lies a deposit placed there by God to lead him or her to that magnificent tree. It is a hunger for truth, a hunger for love, a hunger for recognition, a hunger for purpose, a hunger to know that we are not alone. In our surviving life we continue to feast on the alternative, which does not satisfy, and we neglect the Tree of Life.
Paul tells us…“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” [Ephesians 6:12 ESV] Please note the truth in this passage and the alternative. The truth is to acknowledge that there is a supernatural component to our lives, as our Creator is supernatural. The alternative is, flesh and blood. As long as flesh rules, the alternative is in charge of your life.
When The Snake Bites
There is a story about Paul as a prisoner in a shipwreck ending up on an island called Malta. The story goes like this:
Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.
Acts 28:1-10 NIV
Paul, on a mission from God to bring the Gospel of the Kingdom, is being held prisoner on a ship (enemy distraction), the ship ends up wrecking (enemy distraction), and they land on shore of an Island they do not know. When Paul adds wood to the fire, a viper bites his hand (enemy distraction) and is expected to die. Not only did he live, but he never even got sick from the venom, and the people believed him to be a god! Then word spread, and the same hands that were bitten by the viper were laid on the father of a government official, who received healing, which led to the healing of “the rest of the sick on the island.”
Paul is being held as a prisoner.
Paul is on a ship that is in a storm.
Paul survives the shipwreck and gets washed up on a beach somewhere.
Paul, trying to keep the fire going, gets bitten by a snake.
He had every reason to be bitter, angry, fearful, resentful, full of doubt, confusion and unbelief–all very reasonable alternatives!
But Paul didn’t choose the alternative–he chose life in the Spirit.
His surroundings, his circumstances, his inability to control what was happening were not his focus; the Resurrected Christ was his focus, and Holy Spirit was in Paul wherever he went. He had traded the lesser alternatives in life for the more excellent way of God.
I know that each of you reading this possesses his or her own unique set of surroundings, circumstances and happenings that may not be of your choosing. Maybe you are looking at the alternatives. Let me offer some advice, seek the one who gives you the power to choose. Recognize the enemies tactics, seek the presence of God, saturate yourself with Holy Spirit, wrestle not against flesh and blood.
He has plans for your future, for prosperity and hope (Jeremiah 29:11).
He is the Great I AM, The First and the Last, The Alpha and the Omega.
Not just an alternative!
Kammy