​​There was a recent story about a church staff member in Tampa, Fla., who embezzled nearly $900 thousand dollars.  A reporter wrote, “In November, a federal Judge sentenced church employee “Jane Doe”, 45, to 27 months in federal prison for wire fraud after she pleaded guilty to stealing from the parish she worked for.”

The investigation revealed that for five months “Jane Doe” spent the funds on mortgage payments, car and boat loans, credit card bills for clothing, restaurants, vacations, concert tickets, etc—totaling $875,323.19.  The fact that these actions took place over a five-month period is significant, because she had been a faithful employee of the church for 26 years. What happened during those last five months that caused her to change her behavior so drastically?

We don’t know, but we do know that people can make mistakes, people can be subject to the desires of our human flesh. When we forget that fundamental fact about ourselves and others, when we let guardrails fall into disrepair, when we get lax regarding transparency, commitment, and  accountability, disasters of this kind often ensue.

We should all have safeguards against temptation.  Things happen, people can change, our fellow Christians can change, even Pastors can change.  Remember when the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness for 40 days? The devil offered Jesus comfort, power, and prestige. Jesus resisted the temptations by citing scripture and committing to God's will.

Luke 4:13 “When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.”

The devil left Jesus "until an opportune time," indicating that while temptations may cease for a time, they can return. Satan waits for an “opportune time” to test, tempt, and trip us up. Even though we might know this about him, so much of the time we operate as if we’re spiritually invincible. Like, we’d never fall away from God or do something stupid like other people do. Yeah, right. 

Satan hates us.  The Bible describes Satan as clever, wily, subversive, devious, and deceptive. He is the Adversary, the Accuser, the Father of lies. He’s a destroyer, a killer, and a thief. He knows Scripture. He believes in God, and he has a plan to take us down and take us out. He hates us and he hates the people we love, our fellow Christians, the Church, Prayer Warriors, everyone that is making a difference for Christ.

Satan banks on our greatest vulnerabilities – our human weakness, short-sightedness, and blind spots. So, he just bides his time. He knows God has given us a will that is stronger than our emotions, but our emotions often scream louder, so we tend to follow their voice.
The devil knows our behavior rarely matches our good intentions (Romans 7:15 “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do”.) He knows we’re deeply selfish and that we naturally favor our flesh over the will of God. And he knows that we don’t know much or see much because we’re limited by our humanity and by choices that leave us exposed and unprotected. So, he waits for an opportune time to wreak havoc in our lives, and he knows he’ll get his chance because we’ll give it to him.

We live in a fallen world with fallen people and we are still dealing with our own fallen natures. Satan can test, tempt, and trip us up using broken dreams. Unforgiveness that turns to bitterness. Broken children and husbands and families. Unexpected and unprecedented loss. Church hurt that turns into isolation or desertion from the church. Financial struggles. Arrogance. Selfishness. Negativity. Abuse and injustice. Non ending pain, mental illness, chronic illness. Anxiety, fear, stress, paranoia. Disappointment. Dysfunctional relationships. Our idols that we fight so fiercely to keep and serve such as social media, hunting, shopping, our career, accumulating wealth, food, substances, video games, entertainment, possessions, and yes possibly even ministry….the list defining the “opportune time” just goes on and on……

Thankfully our awesome God has not left us defenseless against an insidious enemy. On our own, we can’t beat the odds against us, but our Creator, Loving Father/Abba, El-Shaddai, has given Christians three things which are both offensive and defensive, and when all three are in play together, Satan’s opportunities against us diminish greatly. He can hit, but not knock us out. He can wound and slow us down, but not disable or stop us.

God’s battle plan for our victory.
• The Holy Spirit – He comes to us by invitation only and makes spiritual birth and relationship with God possible through Jesus Christ. When the Holy Spirit is received, He brings life and growth to the soul, and leads, guides, teaches, protects, and strengthens as we follow Jesus, and don’t grieve Him disobedience.
• The Word of God – The Bible is truth, and Satan cannot stand in the truth. The Bible is light, and Satan is darkness. Shine the light and darkness leaves.  Never forsake the reading of His word.  When you know the Word of God,  Satan can’t manipulate your mind with his lies. Live the truth of the Word, and you are free.
• The Body of Christ – People are God’s secret weapon against the Enemy, but not just any kind of people. People who are faithful to Jesus, who fear Him, who love Him, who are sold out and following hard after Him. You need to get around those kinds of people, surround yourself with them, let them hold you accountable to read the Word of God, to pray, and respond to the Holy Spirit in obedient living, and you will not only survive Satan’s attempts to destroy you, you will thrive in spite of them.

That’s our power play to victory, remaining steadfast in our faith with the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and His People. When we decide to go it alone or think we’re above manipulation or that our belief in God makes us bulletproof, it is a sure thing that Satan will have his “opportune time” with us. 

We live in a broken world, but God is in the process of restoring all things to himself. We get to join Him – if we will. It is my prayer that the example of Jesus lived by us and shared by us will show many more the way forward.

​Susie Walther, Warren Cole Smith, & rw​

"Opportune Time"