The Haunting of ... You

By Lane Palmer, Christian Post Guest Columnist Thursday, October 30, 2008

Sure, most parents make mistakes with their children. Forgetting to change a diaper when they are babies, yelling at them as kids, and of course, the ever popular selling their soul to the devil.

Say what? Yep, that's exactly what happened to Haley Bennett. Well, the character she plays anyway in the film The Haunting of Molly Hartley.

Not much mystery left after reading that title - eh?

And yep, pretty much the same plot as a legion of horror films from the last 50 years. Pact with Satan, creepy helium induced demon voices, and…who knew? The boyfriend was even in on it! Muhahahahaha!

I guess the Halloween release date is even a further attempt to ramp up the scare-o-meter and give you spine tingling chills and thrills as you watch a film that I would have called - The Devil Went Down to the O.C.

While it may be fun to scare yourself silly, when the goose bumps go away, you can take comfort in the fact that no one can sell your soul to Satan. That choice is yours. And believe me, I see teens make that choice in little and big ways nearly every day of my life.

Guys - point and click pornography is not a harmless 'normal guy' habit. Every time you give in, you sell off a bigger piece of your spirit to the powers of hell. Sound ridiculous to you? Then the voices of Satan are already playing in your life soundtrack. But don't take my word for it -listen to the words of Jesus:

But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. So if your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your hand—even your stronger hand—causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell (Matthew 5:28-30).

No, Jesus isn't advocating self-mutilation. But He is giving a clear directive that if you are trapped in a lust/sin cycle, you'd better take radical action quickly, or you could find yourself in an eternal hell separated from God.

And girls? Harmless gossip and bitter attitudes? Yes, that's another way to sell yourselves to the Devil.

In fact, every time any of us gives in to temptation, we post a spiritual real estate sign that says:

'Eternal Soul Available to Demonic Kingdom…Apply Within.'

Here's the way Jesus' brother James puts it:

Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death (James 1:14-15).

The good news is that we also have the choice every day to keep our souls safe in the all powerful and loving grip of our Heavenly Father. Here is a promise you can hold to:

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father's hand (John 10:28-30).

Here is the amazing thing about the Christian life. If you have truly trusted in Jesus as your only hope of salvation, your eternal destiny is safe and secure. Yet…every day in hundreds of little and big ways you choose to listen to and obey the voice of life or the voice of death. The choice is yours.

Please don't give in to temptation and watch your life get dragged away and destroyed by the one whom the Bible calls:

The Tempter The Father of Lies The Destroyer

And most revealing:

The Enemy of our Souls

Satan would love nothing more than to see you depressed, deceived, and ultimately destroyed. He will trick you any way possible, but you can also be sure that God's plan is to treat you as His unique and eternally loved child from today through eternity.

And isn't that the happy ending you're looking for?

Head: Every day you make choices that keep you safe in the Father's hands or sell your soul to the Devil.

Heart: What are you truly afraid of? If Satan and his powerful army of demons isn't on the list, you are waaaaay off. One of the best ways to avoids sin and pursue holiness is to remember the Enemy of your soul is just around the corner waiting to rip you to shreds.

Hands: What desires tempt you and drag you away? This week, make a plan to 'gouge out your eye' and 'cut off your hand' (i.e., radical action) so you can live the abundant life that Jesus has promised.