If there’s one thing I love doing aside reading, it will be watching documentaries. My favorites are mainly those which involved the animal kingdom. Learning how these wild animals survive and co-exist amongst themselves, is something that usually tickles my fancy.
My interest in documentaries is piqued because it affords me the opportunity to firstly appreciate nature, and to also learn more about these wild animals live amongst themselves. I’m fascinated by the apparent subtle mechanisms that govern the animal kingdom.
It’s very intriguing to watch the coping mechanisms employed by the lesser animals against the much brutal ones. A particular documentary caught my attention. This one involved a group of zebras crossing a shallow stream to the other end just to graze the fertile land booming with wild plants. The zebras were well aware of the crocodiles in the shallow stream, so they marshaled their forces and decided to move in large numbers with a considerable amount of speed.
Also, they moved in a manner that they wouldn’t face the crocodiles head on. But rather moved at their sides.
That’s where I learnt that crocodiles are relatively slower to attack you when they are faced sideways. So for about 20 to 30 minutes, with sheer numbers, acceleration, and a careful plan, they were able to escape most of the crocodiles in the pond.
However, after about a couple of minutes later, a group of zebras entered just to cross just like their predecessors. Unfortunately, one of the zebra’s lost concentration and lagged behind.
Slowly it became isolated. This afforded the crocodile to change it’s position and pounced on the lonely zebra.
It was a real tussle between the two, but eventually, the crocodile overcame the zebra. I was awed and particularly intrigued because, the crocodile never gave up, even after several failed attempts. Also the sheer determination and unity of the zebras to outwit and outrun the crocodiles in the stream.
This lesson I learnt made me remember the sermon my pastor preached last year. The scripture was taken from Peter 5:8, which says Be Sober, Be Vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour. This scripture really applies to us Christians. Our advisory the devil lurches in the dark, seeking, searching for the weakest link among us as Christians to destroy.
Just like the crocodile in the documentary, the devil never stops. He keeps coming and coming after us just to destroy us. The word of God in the books of John 10:10 reads that the thief cometh not but to steal, kill, and destroy…
So we ought to be vigilant. Someone may ask what does it mean to be vigilant? The Marriam-Webster English the dictionary explains that to be vigilant means to be alert or that to be watchful to avoid danger
So his prime aim is to eliminate us when we are at our weakest. This occurs when we are detached from the fellowship group. It also occurs when we isolate ourselves and loose concentration. However, he uses subliminal ways to lure us in just to pounce on us and destroy us.
These are some of the ways he uses to lure and entrap us just to destroy us.
The first D the devil uses to destroy us is to fill us with the spirit of DISCONTENTMENT.
John 15:11 (KJV)
”These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”
The scripture above underlines God’s will and intention for us regardless of our current situation. Discontentment, frustration, unhappiness is never from God. Discontentment can plunge you into depression. Comparing what you have to what others have or are doing breeds jealousy, sadness, to mention a few. The devil pounces on us whenever we start allowing these thoughts and emotions to take over. So let’s be weary and careful.
2. The Second D the devil uses to destroy Christians is to fill the Christian with DOUBT
The Bible makes us know and aware that, the devil is the father of lies. The Bible further stipulates that the devil is the prince of the air. Hence he causes us to doubt the word of God.
Doubts always start with suggestions, fuelled by the evil spirits. The fall of Man. The sin Adam and Eve committed against God all started from the seed of doubt the devil first planted in the heart of Eve then later Adam.
Faith is the opposite of doubt. The Bible in the books of Hebrews states that without faith it is impossible to please him…
So Christians, let us be soldiers of faith and not allow the devil to whisper ideas and suggestions that are contrary to the word of God.
3. The third tactic the devil uses to destroy Christians is to cause the Christian to DISREGARD Christ and the Bible.
As he plants seeds of doubts and fear in your heart, his prime aim is to make you disregard Christ and the Bible. Disregarding Christ and the Bible erodes your faith and there you become vulnerable to his whims and caprices. So as Christians let’s be vigilant
Ephesians 6:13
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
The devil won’t stop, so let’s also be ever ready.
4. The fourth tactic the devil uses to destroy Christians is to fill them up with the spirit of DISCOURAGEMENT.
Life is never a bed of roses. It is laced in ups and downs. When we are hit by the storms of life, when all hope is lost, that’s when the devil pounces on us. He attacks when we are the most vulnerable.
Vile suggestions and ideas would be whispered to us through thoughts just to bring us down. Thoughts to discourage us and make us drown in misery.
These are some of the main areas the devil uses against Christians that are not vigilant.
So let’s be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. When we are struck by the storms of life, let’s hold on to the word of God.
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