By Adar Kielczewski

“The job sounded flattering. The prospect of travel to far-off southern Mississippi had alluring appeal. I succumbed to it, going off on a tangent from the planned advertising career,” Mr. Armstrong wrote in his autobiography.

He had been offered a “flattering” job as timekeeper and paymaster at a large lumber mill in southern Mississippi. The offer came about because a book critic, Emile Strapp, who worked for the same newspaper as Mr. Armstrong had noted his energetic, productive work. Miss Stapp was the sister-in-law of Mr. Finkbine, one of the owners of the lumber company. She told Mr. Finkbine of Mr. Armstrong’s work, whereupon young Herbert found himself with the tempting offer: working for a millionaire.

“[T]his time I failed to seek out the advice of my Uncle Frank who had wisely steered my business career thus far,” Mr. Armstrong wrote. Uncle Frank had helped Mr. Armstrong in determining the direction best suited for him. Now Mr. Armstrong was going out on his own and by doing so, getting pulled away from his main goal.

Miss Strapp and her sister lived “out on the Avenue,” as middle-class people called the street where the millionaires resided. Mr. Armstrong was awed by the offer. He just couldn’t pass it up. Later, Mr. Armstrong realized he had been a little too impressed, and that this job was actually just a digression.

How many people get sidetracked? At one time or another, we all make the mistake of getting caught up or distracted by something that pulls us away from our goals. The biggest mistake we can make is getting pulled away from our ultimate goal: being in God’s Kingdom. Satan, very aware of your potential, will lure you away with lights and glitter. He will try and lead you away from what God purposes for you.

Remember, Satan wants to pull you away from what God wants to give you. He will dazzle you with pleasure—for a short time—but you are destined for greatness.

In the introduction to his autobiography, Mr. Armstrong said, “This, truly, is one of the most incredible success stores of our time. … For it is the story of what the living God can do—and has done through a very average human instrument, called and chosen by Him ….”

This applies to all of us. We are all average humans who, if yielded to God, can produce great results. The fact that God is recreating Himself in us is all credited to Him. Yet since we are free moral agents, God can only work with us when we are humble and obedient.

Satan wants you to believe you’re worthless. He wants you to think some titillating temporary distraction is better than what the future holds for you.

Part of being human is making mistakes. One mistake Mr. Armstrong made was taking a job that led him away from his goal. We also can be led away from our goals—a job, developing a new hobby, overcoming faults, building character, cultivating new talents or our ultimate goal—but let us remember Mr. Armstrong’s example. He took a detour, but he certainly learned his lesson.

Then he got right back on track.

Follow along in the Autobiography, Volume 1, page 129 .