The tall woodsman stood looking at his garden. The summer had been a good one, and now the only vegetables left lying in the late fall sunshine were his large, orange pumpkins. A sound from the sky made him look up. A smile spread over his face as a flock of wild geese flew low in a V formation, honking as they went. He watched as they glided down to land on the marsh not far from his clearing in the woods. How good those geese would taste roasted over his fire! He headed for the cabin where his rifle hung on the wall.
An idea began to form in his mind. He pictured the marsh with the geese swimming and feeding as they rested up before flying on south. He knew a shot from his rifle would give him one goose, but it would certainly frighten all the others away. He set his rifle down, and instead picked up his hunting knife and headed for the pumpkin patch.
Soon the top had been sliced off a pumpkin, and the seeds and pulp were scooped out. A few more cuts made eyes, nose, and a mouth. Putting the top back on, the woodsman was pleased with what he had made.
He carried the pumpkin to the edge of the marsh and set it in the water. Knowing it would float, he gave it a gentle push. There was a flutter of wings as a half-dozen geese flew into the air. The pumpkin bobbed slowly out into the marsh, and after a while the geese returned to the water. They kept away from the grinning orange face.
The next day another pumpkin was chosen and the woodsman did the same thing. A second smiling pumpkin face floated with the first one, and this time the geese did not fly off as it floated out into the center of the marsh. Several days went by and each day he added another pumpkin to the marsh. Now there were five pumpkins floating here and there, and the geese had lost all fear of them. They swam happily between them.
The sixth morning the woodsman carefully chose the largest pumpkin from his garden. This time he turned it upside down and cut a wide hole in the bottom. The inside was cleaned out and a face carved in it just like the others. Then he took a large sack from his cabin, put a heavy stone in it and headed for the marsh.
He slowly squatted down, put the pumpkin over his head, and slipped noiselessly into the water. Slowly he began to wade out to the center of the marsh, keeping just his head above water. Closer and closer he came to the geese who were swimming around, not paying any attention to the floating pumpkins.
This is just the way Satan is trying to capture us. He is too smart to approach us with a “bang,” like the woodsman’s rifle. He uses tricks. He wants us to get used to the bad things in the world around us. Soon they seem harmless. But the devil has his eye on us. 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) warns us that we are to be careful “because your adversary the devil... walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
The woodsman stopped wading and just waited. He was watching the geese through the face holes in the pumpkin. Before long a goose swam close by. With a swift movement the woodsman grabbed the goose’s feet, pulled him underwater, and into his bag. Soon another followed, and then another and another, until the bag was full. Then he waded out of the marsh and lifted off his pumpkin head. There would be many feasts from that hour’s work!
The Lord Jesus tells us to “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:1111Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11). The devil has a special interest in those who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour. He knows they can never be his, but he would love to see their lives spoiled. He uses many tricks to attract them and ruin their happiness in the Lord Jesus. verse 17 and 18 of Ephesians 6 tell us that the Word of God and prayer are two important parts of our armor. Don’t forget to spend time reading your Bible and praying every day.
ML-11/05/1989