Seventh-day Adventist® Church

A man woke up early in order to have his morning devotion (prayer) in the lord's house (church).He got dressed and set on his way to the lord's house (church). On his way, he fell and his clothes got dirty. He got up, brushed himself off, and headed home.

He changed his clothes and was again on his way to the lord 's house. On the way and at the same spot, he again fell down again! Again, he got up, brushed himself off and headed home. At home, he once again changed his cloths and was on his way back to the lord's house.

On his way, he met a man holding a lamp. He asked the man of his identity and the man replied , "I saw you fall twice on your way to the house of God, so I brought a lamp so I can light your way. The first man thanked him profusely and the two set off to the house of God. Once at the house of God (church), the first man asked the man with the lamp to come in and pray with him. The second man refused. The first man asked him a couple more times but the answer was the same. The first man asked the man with the lamp why he did not wish to pray.

The other man replied, "I am satan". The man was shocked at this reply but satan went on to explain, "I saw you on your way to the house of God and it was I who made you fall. When you went home, cleaned yourself and went back on your way to the house of God, God forgave all of your sins. I made you fall a second time and even that did not encourage you to stay home but rather, you went back to Church.  Because of that, God forgave all the sins of the people of your household. I was afraid if I made you fall one more time, God will forgive the sins of the people of your village, so I made sure that you reached the house of God safely..."

This is a great lesson for all of us. We should not let satan benefit from his actions.  Do not put off the good you intended to do as you never know how much reward you might receive from the hardships you encounter while trying to achieve that good, for your righteousness can save your family and nation at large. Do this and see the victory of the Lord.
Praise be to God in the highest.