Along with my high school friends, we went to the top of Steptoe Butte with a road grader tire in the back of the pickup. After waiting until we were sure no vehicles were coming up the small Butte we rolled the tire off the side. When the tire hit the pavement of the road encircling the Butte it bounced up in the air 15 to 20 feet before proceeding down to the next piece of road. We were ecstatic at how high the tire would fly (we made sure no one would be hurt and no one was hurt).

The out-of-control tire was symbolic of the out of control lives each one of us was living. We were reckless and ungrounded. We were open to doing things that led to destruction. We were continually making poor choices.

The Bible teaches there was a time in all of our lives “when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient” Eph; 2:2.

There is a contagious influence of evil working on us, involving the tempter, the “ruler of the kingdom or the air”.

When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, we are promised victory over the tempter. We are given the grace to exercise “self-control” because we have become “new creations” in Christ who have received the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Delighting in the Lord we are given new desires and we make choices that glorify Him.

Pastor Greg Brownell

United Brethren Church

Dayton, Wash.