As a lover of movies, one genre of movies that I watch every once in a while are scary movies. The last scary movie I watched was "The Box" with Cameron Diaz. The movie entailed she, a school teacher, and her husband, a scientist who worked at NASA Langley in Hampton, VA, having a date with fate. Fate came inside of a box. This box was delivered by this man who was missing a chunk of his face (you could see his gums and teeth). This man had a proposition for the family: hit the button in the box and receive $1 million and someone you do not know will die. As the husband hit the button, those in the theater, along with myself, were "on the lookout" for what would happen next. Later on, a person did die. If we think about this thing spiritually, God has given us life, health, strength, the ability to pray, the ability to read His Word, the ability to commune with His people, and other things. He gave us the ability to do these things because He wants you and I to always be on the lookout. Today's text will further clarify what I mean by "be on the lookout".
Today's main scripture is located in the book of 1 Peter. Its author, the Apostle Peter, wrote this book between 60 and 65 A.D. His intent was to let Christians worldwide know that though the time this book was written was a time of pain, hurt, and persecution that it was actually a season to rejoice. He informs the Christians worldwide to count it a joy and a privilege to suffer for Christ's sake as He has suffered for them. Within the fifth and final chapter of this book, Peter provides guidance to the elders and young men throughout the world and provides closing remarks. Within his guidance to the elders and young men, Peter provides us with why we should "be on the lookout".
The Message Bible begins this text by saying, "Keep a cool head, stay alert". The King James version begins this text by saying, "Be sober and be vigilant". The point is this: Life will fluster you with its pains, blues, and agonies. The spirits of people will get on your nerves! The economy will get on your nerves! The workplace will even get on your nerves! Your spouse, children or family members will get on your nerves! The enemy will get on your nerves! At the end of the day, Peter is telling you and me to be on the lookout and maintain a cool head and stay alert! One cliché that we should think about employing is "Don't let your enemy see you sweat". As I fore stated, because life has a way of rubbing you the wrong way, it's critical to maintain poise and calmness and do not allow the enemy to see you sweat! Why would Peter encourage the elders, young men, and us to keep a cool head, stay alert, and "be on the lookout"?
The text concludes by saying, "The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping". As an avid lover of football, I am always amazed at how quarterbacks can capitalize on the simplest errors the opposing defense makes. Case in point: I have seen this year how Peyton Manning has double pumped the football and next thing you know, one of his receivers is wide open because the defensive back fell asleep on defense. Manning throws the ball to his receiver and next thing you know, Indy has scored a touchdown! I bring this up because just as Peyton Manning like to capitalize on sleeping defenses, so does the Devil! He wants to pounce on you, my brother, and my sister, when you are vulnerable and are caught napping! As men and women of God, if we can "be on the lookout" and keep our focus on God, He will prepare us for the blitzes that may come from the enemy!
In closing, the world (natural and spiritual) are full of crazy people. It's on us as men and women of God to always "be on the lookout" because the enemy is looking to pounce! My encouragement to my family on today is to continue to fight the good fight of faith, stay in your Word, maintain your relationship with God through prayer, fasting, and other communication, and stay alert! As you do these things, God will set up audibles to stop the Devil's defense from sacking you!
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