Our Great and Terrible Enemy

“Be sober of spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

1 Peter 5:8

Dear Kids,

It’s easy to forget that we have an enemy. This is not a person, a group of people, or a country. Our struggle is with the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Satan, the devil, has it in for us and wants to ruin our lives and our relationship with God. He is always on the prowl seeking for the opportunity to destroy. So in every walk of life we must stay sober and alert. If we don’t we will end up in great distress or worse!

Unsuspecting Victims

It was a beautiful evening and, as is our habit, Abigail and I started out on our regular walk around the fields. We called for our German Shepherd, Apache, to come, and she bolted off in front to explore the mysterious world inside the cornfield. We hadn’t gone very far before we heard a strange, unearthly shrieking coming from between the stalks.

I screamed for Apache but before she appeared three raccoons exited the stand of corn from all directions and galloped through the yard towards the barn. The rustling continued and Apache suddenly emerged holding a young coon in her jaws. The small head, tiny paws, and ringed tail dangled lifelessly in her clenched teeth. A family of coons had apparently taken a peaceful evening excursion without realizing there was an enemy on the loose.

Abigail and I did what anyone in our situation would do – we screamed and ran towards the house calling for Dad to help us. Apache jogged along behind us still carrying her limp victim as we tried to outrun her to the house. Dad heard the commotion and came to the rescue, but it was too late. The young coon was dead, a victim of the evening’s terrors.

Our Unseen Enemy

Our enemy is also unseen. Day by day we go about our business never realizing that the devil is looking for opportunities to separate us from those who might warn of us of our danger. He sneaks through the corn waiting for just the right moment to catch us unawares and pounce on us when we least expect.

This is why Peter warned his readers to be sober and alert at all times. Pride underestimates the wiles of our enemy and allows us to easily fall prey to his schemes. Sometimes during times of difficulty Satan tempts us to turn from our faith. Other times he lures us, like an angel of light, into things and places we shouldn’t go. Immorality, corruption, selfish ambitions, envy, drunkenness, and adultery are his specialties. All of these lead to his earnest desire to destroy us and ruin our relationship with God.

I wish the raccoon family had been a little more careful! It’s too late for them, but not for us. We have an enemy and his main goal is to find someone to destroy. So stay sober and alert through prayer, the Word of God, and connection with a believing community. If you don’t you might end up another victim of our great and terrible enemy.

Love,

Mama

More Posts About Our Enemy:

Satan’s Smack Talk

The Dangers of a Hidden Enemy