Do you remember being a kid and your parents telling you never to take candy from strangers? I do. Wouldn’t you feel uncomfortable if you were at the store, and a stranger came over to you and gave you a piece of candy? What if he or she said, “Here. Take this piece of candy and eat it … It’s really good, I promise.” Would you take it?! Umm … probably not.

So, why do we take candy from the evil one sometimes? He sugarcoats things in our lives every day. He’s the master candy maker. The one who dangles things in front of us, begging us to take just one bite. He makes it look really good, too. He even custom designs it to fit exactly what he thinks will catch our eye. He lives to tempt and destroy us.

My mom had a dream years ago, and in it, she knew the devil was chasing her. When she stopped running, he said, “I’m always one step behind you.” How true! He is one step behind, and he waits with his tempting piece of candy.

I’ve learned that it’s important to stay close to God and recognize these moments. I always pray that our children will have discernment to know right from wrong — and know right from “almost right.” The devil wants to put things in their paths to lead them astray. I pray that they don’t take the bait and don’t eat that candy. It’s sugarcoated for a reason … because underneath all that sugar is a big, fat lie. A big, fat lie that will rob souls and destroy lives.

I know the Lord blesses us when we resist temptations. I hope we can all step away from the candy and stay on the path to Christ. What God has to offer will always end up being much sweeter than anything the evil one cooks up.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.