the enemy lurks in the shadows

June 11, 2003

as i was waiting for my mom and brother to get into the car yesterday, i had the privilege of watching a small squirrel go about doing it's business. it climbed a tree, looked around, hopped around a bit. and then it skipped off into the garden area of my house (which made it disappear from my view).

the next thing i knew, it had hopped up the front wall of my house, in the skip of a heart beat, as if it was running away from something. and lo and behold, there it was. a cat, waiting for it to come down. i didn't even know there was a cat walking around in my garden. it basically came out of nowhere. and i think it was the same for the squirrel. it was happily going about doing it's business, and then the cat just appeared and it ran for dear life.

"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 peter 5:8)

much of us are like the squirrel, happily going about our daily business without realizing that the enemy (like the cat) lurks in the shadows, just waiting to pounce on us at any time. and when the prime moment arrives, the enemy strikes, making it's move against us. one of the greatest things that satan has ever pulled off is making us forget that he's around and that he's only here to destroy us.

so what happens when that moment comes? we basically have three options. we run or we stand and get devoured. that's not to say we can't stand firm either, we definitely could. but if we're not armed with the armor of God (ephesians 6) at ALL times, we are suspect to the enemy's temptations and traps. we're giving him a foothold in our lives that has no right being there. we need to remember that Jesus has the victory. He defeated satan on the Cross. satan has no power over us in Christ if we're connected to Him at all times: in word, thought and action. :)

"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace." (ephesians 6:13-15)

Posted by Leo Chan at June 11, 2003 9:49 AM