In November, 1979, militant Iranian students seized the U. S. embassy in Teheran, and then Iran’s political and religious leader continued the seizure as a hostage situation. Two weeks later he released all non-U.S. captives, and all female and minority Americans because he claimed they were oppressed by the U. S. government. The remaining 52 hostages remained at the mercy of the Ayatollah for the next fourteen months until they were finally released.
“Words from Above” in the Bible tell us in II Corinthians 4 about one of the reasons people in our world continue in their lost spiritual condition. The apostle Paul speaks in verse 3 about the gospel of Jesus being hidden from them, and says that the god of this world has blinded their minds. The god of this world is none other than the devil himself, whose aim it is to prevent the light of the gospel to shine in people’s hearts and minds.
In II Corinthians 10, Paul points out that even though we all operate within a physical body, we also must face a spiritual warfare against our souls. Once people become believers, they must engage in a spiritual warfare through the power granted to us by God. Paul says that God enables believers to “pull down strong holds”, which refers to all the forces of evil that attack the faith of believers. Paul also speaks of “casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God”, which refers to the very thoughts of the mind. Finally, Paul speaks of “bringing into captivity every thought to he obedience of Christ”, which means we must allow Jesus to help us train our minds to obey Him rather than the devil.
Prior to the time people put their faith and trust in Jesus, they are held “hostage” in the thoughts and imaginations of both their hearts and minds. This is exactly the way people were described in the days of Noah, as we are told in Genesis 6. There it says that “God saw that the wickedness of people was great in the earth, and that every single imagination of their heart was only evil continually.” It is obvious that the very same Satan who deceived Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden had taken hostage the souls of humanity.
Fortunately, there is a way for people to be released from being hostages to the devil, and that is to submit themselves to the ways of God. Through His Son Jesus, people can be delivered from the one who takes them hostage, and they can be freed from the power of sin and spiritual death.
Larry R. Steffee is pastor of the Center Hill Brethren In Christ Church on Miller Road in Smithville. Everyone is welcome to attend. For information, you may email lrsteffeetn@yahoo.com.
