Years ago, Paul Harvey described how an Eskimo kills a wolf. He first coats his knife with animal blood and then allows it to freeze. He later adds another layer of blood and lets it freeze. This process is repeated until the knife is completely concealed by the frozen blood. The Arctic hunter then fixes his knife to the ground with the blade facing up. The unsuspecting wolf senses the blood and begins to lick the frozen blood. His appetite for more blood increases with each lick. He begins to lick more vigorously and unknowingly starts slicing his own tongue on the razor sharp knife. The wolf then continues to gratify his thirst for blood with his own warm blood. His perpetual desire will not be satisfied until death overtakes him.

Now, I certainly don't have any firsthand experience with Eskimos or killing wolves. Thus, I can't say with confidence that a wolf would actually keep on licking the sharp knife and consuming his own blood to the point of death. I don't doubt that such could happen for it seems reasonable. However, the truthfulness of the illustration is irrelevant for the point I want to make today; that is, sin is packaged in an attractive manner but always contains the blade of destruction.

Satan does his best to make sin look good to us. He appeals to humans through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, or the pride of life, knowing that we all have weaknesses in one or more of these areas (cf. I John 2:15-17). He tries to hide the consequences and dangers related to sin and make it appeal to our desires. He wants us to crave it as the wolf does blood and eventually destroy ourselves with sin. As James 1:14-16 teaches - "But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when, desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren."

Friends, there are many blades of destruction that Satan craftily hides in an attractive package. Consider just a few with me at this time:

• WEALTH - No genuine Christian wants to appear greedy, but how many of us want more than we have? I Timothy 6:10 - "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." It is still true that "godliness with contentment is great gain" (I Tim. 6:6). Is the desire for more money or material possessions a blade of destruction in your life?

• POPULARITY - Although the Bible clearly teaches that one cannot be friends with the world and be pleasing to the Lord (James 4:4), nevertheless, many Christians seem to desire friendship with both sides (cf. Matt. 6:24). Paul realized that he needed to be one who pleased God first and people second. He stated in Galatians 1:10 that if he still sought to please men, he would not be a bondservant of Christ (cf. I Cor. 9:19-23). This is a difficult lesson for many to learn. Is the desire for fame and earthly honors a blade of destruction in your life?

• PLEASURE - Pleasure is not intrinsically evil. God designed our mortal bodies to be able to experience and appreciate various joys of life. The problem with pleasure is that our world is obsessed with it--and much of it is illicit. I Timothy 5:6 - "But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives." Are you obsessed with pleasure or the fulfillment of the Lord's will? Is physical indulgence a blade of destruction in your life?

Dear listeners, no one is sinless (Rom. 3:10,23). We've all fallen for Satan's frozen bloody knives in the past. The important question is this: Once we start licking, will we stop before we destroy ourselves (Rom. 6:23)? You can overcome the spiritual death that is the natural consequence of sin. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, decide to live for God and submit to His revealed will in all things, and be immersed in water for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38)! Be free from the deceptiveness of sin!