Ash Wednesday was yesterday; millions of Christians began the 40-day journey of Lent, preparing their hearts and minds to fully celebrate Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection on Easter morning, April 17 2022. 

Christians see Lent as a time to recall and renew their commitment to Christ. As sinners, we know that even with the best of intentions we often turn from God. Our thoughts become consumed with our next meal, an upcoming assignment, plans for the weekend, etc., etc. Many times, we simply go about our routines without really putting much thought into it.  

Lent is a time to spend focusing our thoughts and hearts on Christ. 

What about simply asking God to help us experience an awakening over the next days of Lent that could lead us to more fully accepting His gift of salvation? We could ask that He fill our lives with His presence and His will so that we can wake up Easter Morning ready to experience His love in an amazing new way.

Here is an old, old story that reminds us of the importance of putting Jesus first in our lives!

SATAN’S GARAGE SALE

This is a story about Satan’s Garage Sale. Satan advertised that he was selling off many of his tools, and he put on display some of his best items. Many demons showed up to see just what the devil was getting rid of that day. They came from all around to see what they could purchase to improve their shameful skills. Each tool sold almost as quickly as it was placed upon the display tables.

Satan had carefully marked the price upon each tool:

ANGER:  $100           RESENTMENT:   $400             HATRED:  $600,       etc., etc.

Anger was selling fairly low..so common, so plain, so effective. Greed brought a big price, and Pride drove bids to high levels. Multiple copies of the Jealousy tool were hot items. Lust, as always, was at a bargain-basement price.

There were tools that would make it easy to tear others down for use as stepping stones; some lenses for magnifying one’s own importance; if you looked through them the other way, they could be used to belittle others. 

There was an assortment of gardening implements to help one’s pride to grow by leaps and bounds: the rake of scorn; the shovel of jealousy along with the tools of gossip and back-biting, of selfishness and apathy. All were pleasing to the eye and came complete with fabulous promises and guarantees of prosperity.

One visitor, as he browsed, noticed two well worn, non-descript tools on a table in one corner. He found it curious that those two tools had no price tags. When he asked why, Satan just laughed and said, “Well, that’s because I use them so much. If they weren’t so plain looking, people might see them for what they are.” 

This seemed to please the old man. He snatched up the tools and held them to his chest. With a glint in his eye, he asked the Devil, “How much for these?”

I’m sorry, those tools aren’t for sale,” the Devil replied.

Without hesitation, the man said, “I’ll pay you any amount!”

The Devil narrowed his eyes and hissed, “I’ve told you, those tools are not for sale, nor will I ever sell them. They are the most useful tools I own!  Without them I wouldn’t be half as effective in my work. With those tools alone, I can accomplish my every task. Now, good day, sir!”

Disappointed, the man looked once more at the shiny tools, then slowly placed them back on the table in the corner. With almost a whisper, he said to the Devil, “If I can’t buy them, would you, at least tell me their names?”

A slow and wicked grin grew across the Devil’s face. Satan pointed to the two tools, and said, “You see, that one’s Doubt and that one’s Discouragement — and those will work when nothing else will.”

The devil continued, “They are more useful to me than any of the others. When I can’t bring down my victims with the rest of my tools, I use doubt and discouragement. With those tools alone, I can accomplish my every task.

Perplexed, the old man wondered out loud, “What’s so special about those tools?”

“Nothing paralyzes a person, nothing stops someone in their tracks like discouragement and doubt, resulting in hopelessness. Discouragement and Doubt are no respecters of persons. They keep the unemployed, unemployed; the homeless, homeless; the sick, sick. 

“They can even draw the most powerful ministry to its knees. When overcome with discouragement and doubt that leads to hopelessness, persons cannot pray, they cannot worship, and they become a victim of their environment. Discouragement and doubt drain their victims of courage, vision, faith, expectation, and the will to make a difference in the kingdom of God. If I can get people discouraged and full of doubt, then I have successfully neutralized them. They are then left with only enough energy to feel hopeless and sorry for themselves.”

- Anonymous

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Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me.   John 14:1 NLT

So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.   Hebrews 10:35-36

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 NLT

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13 NLT

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT

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If you liked this story and would like a copy of either of my books,
they are available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle format:

If you have a story or testimony that you think might bless others,
I invite you to send it by email to me (Kenneth Kersey) at godsotherways@me.com.

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