Desires

I was eleven years old when I experienced my first youth trip. My parents gave me a $100 bill and one rule. The money was only to be used on food.

We arrived at a hotel after three hours of eating candy and non-stop singing on the bus. There wasn’t anything special in the lobby…except a nearby entrance that read “Game Room”! The flickering lights and loud noises immediately sucked me in like a vortex.

I was astonished! Never had I seen anything of this magnitude! There were arcades of all types, pinball machines and even small roller coasters!

I was on a sugar high and standing in the midst of paradise—alone. My eyes dilated and my hands tremored with excitement. I dashed to the coin machine to have the time of my life.

It began with $5, but that was gone before I blinked. I inserted another $5 and then $10. My pockets were filling with tickets! I wanted the prizes behind the counter! Oh, to be young!

I had quickly forgotten about my one rule. Fortunately, I was saved before all the money had vanished. I received a good lecture and was carefully monitored for the remainder of the trip.

In LOTKS chapter 24 (Dark Shadows Past) Andrius and Caedmon are passing through the Swamp of Destitution. The waters were enchanted by Sahib to lull warriors to their deaths. Each warrior saw their greatest desires in the distance. One found his death, and even Hadwyn was greatly tempted, but Andrius and Caedmon remained strong.

This scene parallels Satan’s power as a tempter in Matthew 4:1-11. He has the ability to tempt us with our greatest desires. I also named the swamp Destitution, because Satan desires to separate us from the Church and Christ in order that we experience an eternal destination in Hell. Our hearts may long for many things, but the heart is wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). Jesus suffered when He was tempted, and He is able to help those who are being tempted (Hebrews 2:8).

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?”

Jeremiah 17:9