This unfriendly warning from the pit bull dog that lives across the street suddenly interrupted my summer afternoon visit to the mailbox. My first thought was to run. But I knew that in the time it would take me to reach the safety of my door, this dog would catch up to me.
Maybe some of you boys and girls have not heard of pit bulls. These dogs can be very unfriendly and dangerous—a real enemy, not only to children, but to grown-ups too. However, if they are very well trained by their owners, they can be good family pets. But this pit bull that lives across the street was very unfriendly, and I was not looking forward to meeting up with him.
Since I couldn’t make it to my front door in time, I quickly thought about what else I might do. I could use my feet to kick the dog. However, the neighbor had warned me before that kicking this dog was a bad idea. The last man who kicked him had to be rescued from its jaws by the dog’s owner. So what else could I do? I know that some dogs can be scared off by loud noises, so I tried yelling at the top of my lungs.
GRRRR ... WOOF! The dog’s growling and barking didn’t sound like he was one bit scared by my yelling, as he continued his steady trot in my direction. I was running out of ideas. The envelopes in my hand couldn’t be used for protection. I looked around for a stick or something to hit the dog with. All I saw was pea-sized gravel, so I stooped down and picked up a handful of gravel and hurled it with all my might at the mean beast that was coming closer each second.
GRRRR ... WOOF! He seemed to have taken no notice of the gravel bouncing off his body. Now what? I had tried everything I could think of, and there was nothing that could protect me from this oncoming, unfriendly, threatening animal!
You and I have an enemy even more dangerous than my neighbor’s pit bull. This enemy is out to devour and destroy us. The Bible describes him: “Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:88Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8)). Don’t think for a minute that any of your own wisdom or strength is any more able to save you from Satan than my yelling or throwing gravel was able to protect me from the jaws of that pit bull. There was no way I could defend myself without help.
At that moment, I heard behind me the fierce barking of another dog approaching at a full run. My heart was flooded with relief as I realized it was my own dog, and he was coming to my rescue! The pit bull turned and ran back into his own yard, as I quickly ran to mine, praising and thanking my dog, Captain, for his heroic rescue.
Those of you who know the Lord Jesus as your Saviour do have a protector, and His power and wisdom will always come in for you to drive away Satan with his roars and threats. Don’t depend on your own strength or ideas to fight this strong enemy. How foolish it would have been for me to tell my dog to get back in our yard and let me handle the situation on my own. But that would not have been nearly as foolish as anyone who decides they can overcome Satan with their own strength. Only Jesus can overcome him, for He defeated Satan when He rose from the dead. Is Jesus your Protector and Saviour?
ML-04/06/2008