Christians As Prey Of The Enemy
Southaven, Ms
By: Mike Upchurch
I have written of this subject in a post on Facebook, but never in a column, so let’s examine the subject here just this once, and we’ll rely on your ability to imagine the animals discussed.
Consider this fact: there is a difference between the placement of the eyes of predators versus their prey.
Predator’s eyes, such as those of a lion, face forward and are set on either side of the bridge of their nose like humans. This gives them depth perception.
Prey, such as a rabbit for example, have their eyes set on either side of their heads, almost where our ears would be, giving them a 360 degree field of view with minimal movement, and giving them advance notice of approaching prey!
So what does that have to do with us Christians, you might ask? Well, the spiritual application for us is that although we might set atop the food chain in the Animal Kingdom, we’re not predators in the Kingdom of God at all. We are in fact prey, and we are prey to our enemy the devil. Observe…..
“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
1 Peter 5:8
Yes, you could be devoured! It’s good therefore to have peripheral spiritual vision, such as smaller more vulnerable animals do, constantly on the lookout for traps he has set for us. He is constantly trying to trick us and trap us with temptations and plots. Keep your eyes wide open, and remember that you are in fact prey and you’re constantly being stalked!
Constantly remind yourself you can be devoured by the enemy if you fall prey to his traps and find yourself relishing or enjoying the sins he tempts you with. If that weren’t so, Peter would have no reason to warn us to be alert!
Look at the Apostle Paul’s warning to those who fall prey to satan’s traps and fall back into sin…..
“When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”
Galatians 5:19-21 NLT
That should scare you deeply! That those in sin will NOT inherit the Kingdom! The weak minded Christian, the one who doesn’t have a prayer life and rarely studies the word, is an easy target for the devil, just as a smaller animal is in the wild if they’re not paying attention. And without repentance, the soul that falls for his schemes is in real eternal danger!
Be on the alert, he’s sneaking about! Keep your eyes open, stay prayed up, and know the word! We don’t want to hear of your demise at the hands of your enemy!
And that’s the way I see it!
Pastor Mike
