From beginning to end it was a wilderness hike of eleven miles, and they were anything but flat miles. Most of the hiking was on trails that wound steeply up or down through the Olympic Mountains. Jason was an eager hiker and outdoorsman. He went hiking just about every chance he got and usually went alone. Nearing the end of his hike, he stopped by a large tree to rest for a moment. He stepped away from the tree and happened to look behind him. There, not five feet away, stood a large male cougar! The cougar had crept up close to Jason, using the tree as cover. Like all cats, his padded feet hadn’t made a sound. Not even the snapping of a twig had given away his presence. With a shock, Jason realized that the cougar had almost taken him completely by surprise!
Jason looked into the eyes of the big cat and began backing up. He moved slowly so he wouldn’t provoke the cat to fight. He wanted to avoid a fight if at all possible. At the same time, if the cougar attacked he wanted to be ready. He quickly glanced at the ground around him, looking for something that he might use as a weapon. Nothing he saw on the ground would work as well as the aluminum walking poles that he held in his hands.
The cougar began walking slowly toward him. Jason raised the poles over his head to make himself look as large and threatening as possible. The cougar walked to within a couple steps of him. Then without warning, the big cat turned off the trail and disappeared into the heavily timbered mountainside.
When Jason stood fast and raised his poles over his head, the cougar gave up his intention of attacking him. Satan, the enemy of our souls, is always on the prowl for victims, and he doesn’t give up quite so easily. Grown-ups and children alike are often unaware that he has focused his attention on them. His ways are often so crafty and deceiving that many souls won’t even realize they are his willing prey until death. Then it is too late! Satan gets the victory once more, and all his victims will be in that awful place called hell, which was made for him and his angels.
The Bible warns us about Satan and his evil ways. “Be sober, be vigilant; because 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)). How can he be defeated? Only when a person comes to the Lord Jesus for salvation from their sins can they escape this awful enemy. Only the Lord Jesus can break the fearful hold the devil has over his victims. Otherwise, he has them firmly in his power.
Satan would like to do harm to believers too. If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus and are relying on His strength, you can defeat Satan by standing fast on the Word of God. God’s Word assures us: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:77Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)). Satan will flee because “greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:44Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4)). By trusting in the Saviour’s ever-present power, a believer in Jesus Christ will never be defeated.
If you haven’t yet come to the Lord Jesus for the salvation He freely offers you, will you come to Him right now? He loves you and is waiting to cleanse you from your sins. Then by His grace, as one of His own children whom He dearly loves, you can “stand fast in the Lord” (Philippians 4:11Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. (Philippians 4:1)) and live to please Him.
ML-04/25/2004