When Animals Attack

Did you ever watch the TV show, “I Was Prey”?

It aired on the Animal Planet Network a couple of years ago.

Considering the show’s title, I’m sure you can imagine what it was about.

A wild and dangerous animal attacks an unsuspecting person, and he or she may (or may not) make it out alive.

The show was scary and captivating at the same time.

Each episode was a vivid reminder that we should never completely let our guard down when we’re in the great outdoors.

Don’t Touch A Dead Snake!

Out of all of the scenes on “I Was Prey”, there was one that really stuck out in my mind and sparked some interesting conversations afterward.

During the episode, Tennessee firefighter Kyle Watson and his family were out having a fun day hiking in the woods.

Along the trail, they came upon a rattlesnake. Kyle killed the snake and cut it in half to make sure it was dead.

He wanted to show it to his kids and then move it off the trail to protect other hikers. As he bent down to retrieve the dead snake, the severed head reared up and bit him on the finger.

A severed snake head, seemingly harmless at that point, was still able to bite.

Eek! Creeps me out.

I had to look it up and sure enough, it’s not all that uncommon.

Vulnerable, But Not Defenseless

You don’t have to be hiking on a wooded trail to suffer the bite from a serpent.

I’m talking about life for us as Christians.

None of us are immune from spiritual attacks by the devil.

The adversary is alive and well today, just as he was in back in Jesus’ day.

In the Bible, 1 Peter 5: 8-11 says this:

⁸ Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. ¹⁰ And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. ¹¹ To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. – 1 Peter 5:8-11, (ESV).

The Battle Is Already Won

Satan is a cunning liar.

He will tempt you to doubt God’s love and he will reinforce any insecurities you’re having about yourself and your relationships.  He’ll also try to convince you that God doesn’t care.

But we, dear Christians, know better.

The battle is already won.

We don’t belong to the Enemy.

We have a Champion – our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Fire will rain down from Heaven and the devil will be thrown into the lake of fire for eternity.

Please remember this: the devil hates your prayers.

If you’re in the midst of a spiritual attack, put on your spiritual armor and pray.

Our Father in Heaven will hear you.

Amen to that!

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* Scripture quotation is from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2016 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

**A.W. Tozer quotation, as quoted from Christian quotes.info