21/04/2025
Double It
This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Galatians 5:16.
There was once a tyrannical king who summoned a skilled blacksmith with a peculiar request. He commanded the blacksmith to forge a heavy iron chain. The blacksmith complied, meticulously crafting each link before presenting it to the king. Upon seeing the chain, the king ordered, “Double it.”
Without protest, the blacksmith returned to his workshop and toiled to lengthen the chain. When he presented the newly extended chain, the king repeated his order: “Double it again.”
Undeterred, the blacksmith dutifully added even more links, believing he was simply following royal orders. Finally, he brought the massive chain back to the king, only to hear a cruel decree: “Guards, bind him with his own handiwork and throw him into prison.”
This story reflects the stark reality of countless individuals. There is a devilish tyrant in the world, cunningly compelling people to forge the very chains that enslave them. They become prisoners in self-made shackles. Satan works overtime on those who seek to serve the Lord, and his lies are incredibly compelling. He will present each chain link as an opportunity to obtain our earthly desires.
Before we know it, we are weighed down by sin and regret. We have missed God’s best for our lives because we have been duped by Satan’s worst. How do we break free? When we walk a path lit by the clarity of God’s Word, suddenly Satan’s attempt at wrapping us in sin becomes obvious. We can see each chain link for what it is and choose to walk in freedom with the Lord. Satan’s crafty lies are no match for the powerful truth of Scripture.
Whether you are trying to avoid Satan’s pitfalls or are trying to break the cycle of doubling your chains, putting on the armor of God is the answer. Service does not equal spirituality. Only a personal walk with the Lord will spare you Satan’s chains.
Jim Scudder, Jr.
Senior pastor of the Quentin Road Baptist Church, president of Dayspring Bible College, and host of InGrace TV and Radio.
