…because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:18

The phone rang at 5:37 AM…

I answered it without even looking to see who was calling…

Was it my daughter?  Another family member?

Was something wrong?

Was there an emergency?

The person on the other end of the line assured me there was an emergency…

“I’m calling from Microsoft about your computer.”

“You’re calling from Microsoft?”

“Yes.  About your computer.”

“What about my computer?”

“Your computer has been infected with a dangerous virus…Please go to your computer immediately.”

“I will direct you to a website where you can download software to stop the virus…”

“Really?”

“Yes, Mr. Jackson.  If you don’t follow my directions right away, you will lose all your personal information.”

I chuckled.

Laughter was not the reaction she expected…

“Mr. Jackson, please heed my warning!”

“You must take this matter very seriously, and act immediately!”

I laughed again.

One of us hung up.  I think it was me.

A year from now, I won’t remember the call or the voice whispering lies to my half-awake brain…

But her lies are so like the much more serious ones that tempt me every day…

The call came when I least expected it… when I wasn’t at my most alert…

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour 1 Pete 5:8

She offered to save me…

for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14

Fortunately, I had read about this very scam the day before…

I was armed with information from a reliable source or I might have been tempted to believe her lies…

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16

She was gone, but someone like her will be back…

When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.  Luke 4:13

When I face those lies… When I face those temptations…There is one true source of help…

For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:18