Have you ever tried to cancel a service or close an account with some provider (like phone, internet, bank, etc.)? How amazing is it the number of hoops they will jump through and the variety of options they will throw your way to try to keep your business? Some will almost literally say, “No, please don’t leave us. What about this? Or, what about this? Oh, you don’t like those options? Ok, well let me give you the best deal we’ve got. You can’t pass this one up!” They do all they can to keep you as a customer!
Does that remind you of someone? The devil is just like that! When you try to “cancel services” with him or “close out your account” (i.e., when you repent of sinful living and decide to turn away from following the paths of Satan to following the paths of Christ), the devil tries throwing all sorts of other options at you. Try this. Oh, and try this. Ok, well, how about this? No, don’t go. Let me come up with something else. That’s why Peter said, “Resist him, steadfast in the faith” (1 Pet. 5:9).