A few years back behavioral psychology and scientific materialism were in vogue. These proved to be cold bedfellows.

In the present hour we are experiencing a deep spiritual hunger in America. Some outstanding scientists have become involved in the occult, in particular, various forms of the Hindu religion. Drugs are playing an important role in enabling people to escape the rigors of life in the physical world.

Man has a spiritual nature. It cannot be satisfied by a materialistic approach to life. People yearn for the horns of elfland, as Lewis would put it.

We can satisfy our longing for spiritual life in the Hindu or Buddhist religions or in some of the New Age adventures. These may be the "deep things" of Satan, falsely so- called. However there are no deep things of Satan. The things of Satan always prove to be bags of hot air.

Your present writer loves to think about the spirit Paradise. In fact I have a collection of books that deal with visions and near-death experiences. If you know of any good ones you might forward the titles to me.

In Satan's spiritual world there are exciting experiences, such as astral projection. But in the end you are going to be confined with the demons you have chosen. How would you like to spend eternity in a cage with a few demons?

In Jesus Christ's spiritual world there are exciting experiences. Believe me you can walk hand in hand with Jesus through the most beautiful meadows imaginable. There you are surrounded with righteousness, peace, joy, and every other desirable attitude and experience.

Jesus can satisfy your desire for the mystical, and he doesn't add the moral filth of demons with it.

Satan is real, make no mistake. Once you deal with him you will be a long time (if you ever do!) escaping his clutches.

God is very jealous. If He sees you prefer Satan He will turn away from you quickly. But coming back to the Lord can be tremendously difficult. Once you have been in the occult, and then try to confess your involvement as having been sin, you will feel the hand of pride around your throat choking you. You may finally gain deliverance but it's hard.

To pray, read your Bible, gather with the saints, serve, give, may not seem as exotic as doing drugs and hallucinating. But let me assure you there are mystical depths in Christ that Satan has never heard of.

You will have spiritual life and peace today, and when you die you will be in the Paradise of God, not in a cage with demons.

Keeping your mind and heart stayed on Jesus Christ is part of the answer to Paul's dilemma. As long as you are living the typical adamic life, occupied with what you are eating, drinking, wearing, marrying and giving in marriage, buying and selling, you will never enjoy lasting life and peace. There is spiritual death in the pursuit of the material world.

But to go to God in prayer every day, listening for His voice, meditating in the Scriptures, having the assurance that should you die right now you will be in a world where there is Christmas every morning, where all you have loved will be present even your old dog that died years ago.

Hey, I wish I were with the Lord now even though I love my family dearly. But there is work to be done and I don't want to go until it's finished.

Do you have this joyous assurance? Do you look forward to death as a child looks forward to Christmas morning?

You can, you know.