The Enemy Hunts but God Holds
Mercy me, friend, I’m mighty glad you stopped by this here ol’ front porch today. I was about to chase a nosy goat away from my tomato plants, but this conversation is far more important. Sit down a minute. Let’s chew on a truth that’ll stick to your ribs better than biscuits and gravy. Come on now, and pull up a rocker and settle yourself in real good because what I’m about to say came to me this morning while I was watching a possum that had wandered onto my front walk like it owned the place. That scruffy lil’ thing froze, stared at me with those beady little eyes, and then waddled off with all the confidence of a preacher headed to Sunday potluck lunch. And right then I thought, “Lord, that there lil’ ol’ critter is more alert than most of us are when the enemy comes sniffin’ around.” You know, in 1 Peter 5:8-9, where we’re told to “stay alert” because the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Not nibble. Devour. That there’s enough to make even a lil’ ol’ smart-alec rooster stop his crowin’.
Another verse that plum fits this here truth like a real good collar fits on a plum good coon hound dog is Ephesians 6:11, “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Friend, the Christian life is sho’-‘nuff the greatest life there is, but it just ain’t no kind of easy stroll through a meadow filled with butterflies that politely mind their own business. The moment Jesus saves you, He plum fills your heart, forgives your sins, and gives you a real purpose, but you also gain a real mean enemy that would love nothing more than to knock you flat on your back like a lil’ ol’ onery goat that charges at you and butts you good when you ain’t lookin’.
The real good news is that Jesus plum transforms us from the inside out. He removes our guilt, fills our emptiness, and deposits His righteousness into our spiritual account. That’s justification, and it’s a whole lot better than finding a whole pan of warm, buttered cornbread you forgot you made. But the bad news is that the devil don’t git to sendin’ any congratulatory cards. He sends a whole lot of trouble. 2 Timothy 3:12 says, “Everyone who wants to live a godly life “will suffer persecution.” That there means you will be hunted, harassed, and hassled like an ol’ rascally raccoon that keeps on getting’ chased away from the same trash can every night.
This is why we can’t be affordin’ any kind of watered‑down gospel. Sermonettes make Christianettes, and Christianettes are not ready for battle. We must know our enemy, but more importantly, we must know our God. The devil may roar, but he ain’t the Lion of Judah. He may prowl, but he can’t overpower a believer who stands real firm in Christ. God has equipped us with everything we need to resist that ol’ devil.
Lord, help me stay alert. Strengthen my faith, guard my heart, and keep me close to You. Remind me that the enemy is real, but so is Your victory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Ok, then, friend, before you git to headin’ off to whatever waits for you next, tuck this here truth real deep into your pocket like a smooth river stone. The enemy may circle you like a hawk eyein’ a field mouse, but he can’t touch what God holdin’ onto. Your battles may feel real loud and messy like a henhouse full of squawkin’ chickens, yet the Lord stands real steady over every moment. When fear tries to rattle you, you gotta be rememberin’ that you plum belong to the One who don’t never lose a fight. And when the enemy gits to roarin’, you gotta lift your chin, plant your feet, and let your faith in God answer even louder.
With joy,
Gwen
