Watching the squirrels
Standing in the woods and watching the squirrels dart this way and that, hunting for their acorns laying under the leaves. They dart from tree to tree, stop, look around and then dart across a log and onto the next tree. Whoosh! Up the tree they go and with a bang down comes another acorn, with the squirrel close behind. Most times they climb down with two fat cheeks, signs that he didn't drop the nut and has it in his mouth.
Watching the squirrels is interesting. They are constantly on the alert. When deer hunting, a squirrel will tell you when that buck is coming, they will hide behind a tree, giving you early warning!
Make some noise and off they go, hiding behind the tree. Barking a warning to others that there is danger there! But, then, they just can't resist and around the tree comes a little head to take a peek. In spite of all their caution and alertness, the squirrel still has to see what is going on.
Christians also are to be alert. To watch constantly.
"Be sensible and vigilant, because your adversary the Devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking someone he may devour; "(1 Peter 5:8) is our warning. To stay awake. As my drill sargent told me in basic training, "stay alert, stay alive!"
" Therefore stand, having your loins girded about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, take the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching to this very thing with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."(Eph. 6:14-18)
Plenty of warnings, a lot of instruction on how to be ready, but are we like the squirrel and can't resist just a peek? Toe in the water, a hand in the cookie jar? A hunter's trick is to wait for the squirrel to stick his head around the tree and then take his shot. One squirrel in the cooking pot...and in our Christian walk, that is all it takes, just a start and then we are caught. Read James 1:14 and you will understand.
But, as in all things, God is our protector, and to Him we flee, as in Eph 6:11, "Put on the whole armour of God so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. "
Once I couldn't understand why all the squirrels were barking (like crazy!) until I moved and the hawk that was watching them was startled and took off. Then I understood. Do you?
Until next time on my front porch.