Stolen Prayer (The Last Temptation, 1994)

SATAN’S PROMISE IS ONE SIZE FITS ALL:
LIKE AN OLD STRAITJACKET

Has your worldview shifted over time? Do you question things you once believed to be true?  Does what once seemed black and white now begin to take on shades of gray?  Has truth changed with time, or are we in danger of becoming jaded by our experiences?  

The world we live in offers so much promise yet delivers so much emptiness, which can be attested to by those who have reached out to grab the golden ring, only to find plastic-wrapped in fool’s gold. The American Dream peddled, to us by Madison Avenue, is nothing more than an unattainable vapor, something as easily apprehended as a handful of smoke.

The pathway to the “pursuit of happiness” is littered with the wreckage of shattered lives, yet new pilgrims embark on the journey each day.  

What is the reason? Can it be humanity is inherently stupid, or could there be an external siren song, calling us to self-destruction – self-destruction disguised as freedom?

This post is inspired by the song, “Stolen Prayer,” written by the late Chris Cornell called Stolen Prayer.  Originally written for, but never recorded by, Ozzy Osborne. Alice Cooper recorded the song on his album The Last Temptation.

When we are young and idealistic, life seems so full of hope and wonder. The same can be said about our early days of faith, especially if you have come to the Lord as an adult. 

As newborn babes in Christ, there is nothing but hope and excitement; our faith seems unshakable.  Then life comes at us like a freight train, and all we were so sure of suddenly becomes a ball of confusion. 

Questions like: Is God really there? Does God really care? Those questions and many others begin to creep in, and the voice of our enemy seems far clearer and louder than the voice of our Father.

When we begin to listen to that voice, the voice of doubt and discouragement, the voice who tells us we are worthless or deserve better than what we are getting, when we listen to that voice, it’s not long before we are bound up and neutralized. 

Jesus faced Satan at His weakest point, after 40 days of fasting.  Jesus had no physical strength to defeat a celestial being – a being of great power and intellect.  The only defense Jesus had available was the Word of God.  The only weapon available was the only weapon necessary.  

There is a battle of words for our souls. Satan’s words telling us freedom is one size fits all, except the freedom he offers is a straight jacket.  On the other hand, it is God’s words, telling us His plan for us is unique and tailor-made for the person He has allowed us to become.  Also in the mix are our words, words spoken either in prayer or in vanity.

It is ironic, the One who speaks to us in whispers (whispers we must train ourselves to hear) died in our stead while the one who speaks to us in clearly understood, silky tones that entice us to die for him.  Everything comes down words.

God’s Word is filled with promises and accounts of fulfilled promises. God’s word also tells us there will be times when we will walk through the valley of the shadow of death.  Amid the valley of death is the promise of God never to leave us nor forsake us. Even in our times of unfaithfulness, God promises to remain faithful to us, if we are His (2 Timothy 2:13).

These are essential words; they are life-sustaining words.

We have to prepare for life’s swerves, peaks, and valleys. We are heading straight for those times when we are tempted to question truth (especially when the silken voice of the serpent hisses lies in our ears). The only weapon we have is the only weapon necessary, God’s word.

“Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee” – Psalm 119:11

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked nor stands in the way of sinners nor sits in the seat of scoffers” – Psalm 1:1

The embodiment of wickedness is the prince of sinners and scoffers. The father of lies will flatter you or degrade you, depending on what is most effective. The Prince of Peace will tell you the truth and give you the power to respond appropriately. Whose words are you listening to? Whose words have the greatest influence on you?

Use your words and pray to the Father of Lights: Matthew 26:41 – Watch and pray that you will not fall into temptation…

Jesus’ words are a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, while the words of the angel of perdition promise everything we think we ever wanted but lead to the deepest depths of darkness where those who walk are clothed in despair.

“My sheep know my voice, I know them and they follow me” – John 10:27

Train yourself to recognize the voice of the Shepherd so you won’t be fooled when the serpent hisses his deadly promises in your ear. Learn to recognize the words of the Shepherd and ask for the power to do what His words tell you.

Now, go live as Christ… and give the devil hell!

Wrapping this up, Pastor Paul Ahnert’s interpretation of “Stolen Prayer” is an in-depth look at the daily attacks waged by the enemy against us. How many times have we tried to slip on that one-size-fits-all lie that ends up binding our hearts and minds against our own Creator?

The slippery slope of sin and deceit catch us off-guard, often leaving us dismayed and confused when we realize the truth. May we come to realize that a good portion of the journey is best spent “on our knees” in prayer – asking for God’s purpose and His path to be revealed as we navigate the “carnival of souls.”

In conclusion, The Last Temptation is an impressive display of faith, cognizance, and truth neatly fastened together within a hard-hitting concept album. Very rarely does an entire LP have the ability to speak the truth and effectively change hearts and minds like The Last Temptation does.

Whether it changes, reaffirms, or introduces the listener to the concept of faith, temptation, and vice, one can’t help but consider the elements found on the album. The narratives found song after song challenges the listener – calling them to action. By the end of the record, the listener is fully compelled to search for the Truth – God’s Truth.

That’s it for this week. Be well and catch you next Friday.

Until then, Keep Walkin’ in Faith and Rockin’ with Alice!