You see the image below every time that you’re working on your PC computer.
It is a key management tool for your use of software, for the Internet or for looking at database files such as photos or text files, etc.
With it you can control what is seen on the screen and even what it active but hidden from sight.
Of course, the most important component of the three-element icon below is the X pictured on the far right.
That closes the program or the image or the particular text file.
During the 30 years that I’ve been working with computers in one form or another, I’ve probably clicked the X button a million times.
I would be foolish to claim that I’ve always clicked the button just the way that I should have.
Sometimes, I’m sure, I’ve clicked it too early because I didn’t want to read a website article or e-mail that prodded my conscience about an unhealthy attitude or behavior.
Sometimes, I’m also sure, I haven’t clicked it soon enough because I did want to read an article or e-mail or look at an image that shouldn’t have gotten that “second look.”
The button icon above is so relevant to our spiritual lives, my friends.
Particularly in the realm of sin.
Most often, Satan sends those sin files onto the screen of our consciousness and we immediately X them out.
That’s good. We’re honoring the Lord, our loved ones, our testimony and ourselves when we see His scheme as a virus for the soul and send our cursor racing to the X button.
Sometimes, however, we click the maximize button on the foul file because our minds believe “There’s pleasure in them thar hills.”
Perhaps it is the pleasure of learning how to unscrupulously get rich quick or the pleasure of hearing juicy gossip about somebody at work or school or the pleasure in seeing body parts that we have no business seeing.
We should have raced for the X button.
Instead — with hearts and minds racing — we moused over to the maximize button.
Satan, of course, smiled and giggled while nudging his demon buddies watching the whole thing.
Even more troubling to the Lord, I believe, were those times when — after we’ve already opened the foul file — we tried to hide it from others who approached us.
We didn’t want to be discovered, so we minimized the visibility of what should never have been opened.
We knew it’s there, ready for our resumed pleasure as soon as the temporary disruption of a family member or co-worker ends and we were again alone.
Problem was, though, that we were NOT alone.
Satan was watching.
He knew what we’d hidden.
And so did God.
The Lord knew that He provided an X button for us regarding temptation, yet we chose to gaze rather than get away as fast as we could.
It pains His heart to know that corruption comes into man’s heart whenever temptation finds a welcome mat, even if only temporarily.
Yet, despite this pattern of rebellion found in all of our hearts in one way or another, God still loves.
He still forgives.
He still restores.
And His Holy Spirit still calls us to hit the X button whenever temptation comes our way.
I love the hope found in God’s promise recorded in I Corinthians 10:13.
“And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
Dear friend, use this Windows icon as a ministry tool to help you toward becoming more holy.
Don’t maximize Satan’s temptations in order to gain pleasure.
And don’t minimize the visibility of the temptation that is still displayed and operating behind the scenes in your heart and mind.
RACE to the X button.
And when you don’t act quickly enough, and you fall into sin, that’s when you need to race to the Cross with a repentent heart.
God promises in I John 1:9 that He WILL reboot our lives with the proper files if we confess our sins and sincerely ask Him to restore our spiritual operating system.
As always, I love you
Martin
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