By Sandra Sheridan

1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober of spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

It’s easy to forget we have an enemy. Our struggle is with the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Satan, the devil, has it in for us and wants to ruin our lives and ruin our relationship with God. He is always on the prowl seeking the opportunity to destroy. So in every walk of life we must stay sober and alert. If we don’t, we will end up in great distress or worse.

It was a beautiful evening and Abigail and I started out on our regular walk around the fields. We called for our German Shepherd, Apache, to come, and she bolted off in front to explore the mysterious world inside the cornfield. We hadn’t gone far before we heard an unearthly shrieking coming from between the stalks.

I screamed for Apache, but before she appeared three raccoons exited the stand of corn and galloped through the yard. The rustling continued and Apache suddenly emerged holding a young coon in her jaws. The small head, tiny paws and ringed tail dangled lifelessly in her clenched teeth. A family of coons had apparently taken a peaceful evening excursion without realizing there was an enemy on the loose.

Abigail and I did what anyone in our situation would do – we SCREAMED and ran toward the house calling for Dad. Apache jogged along behind still carrying the limp victim. Dad heard the commotion and came to the rescue, but it was too late. The young coon was dead, a victim of the evening’s terrors.

Our enemy is also unseen. Day by day we go about our business never realizing that the devil is looking for opportunities to get the best of us. He sneaks through the corn waiting for just the right moment to pounce on us when we least expect.

This is why Peter warned his readers to be sober and alert at all times. Pride underestimates the enemy’s wiles and allows us to easily fall prey to his schemes. Often during difficult times Satan tempts us to turn from our faith. Other times he lures us into things and places we shouldn’t go. Immorality, corruption, selfish ambitions, envy, drunkenness and adultery are his specialties. These are tools that aid him in his desire to destroy us.

I wish the raccoon family had been a little more careful. It’s too late for them, but not for us. We have an enemy and his main goal is to destroy. So, stay sober and alert through prayer, the Word of God, and connection with a believing community. If you don’t you might end up another victim of a great and terrible enemy.