Sober and Vigilant

While fishing a few weeks ago on a local lake, enjoying the peace and nature. I thought about an introduction my dad would start off with years ago as he would begin to start the Sunday sermon and try to engage the congregation. He would tell us, there was once a man fishing in Florida, the man capsized his boat. Well, the good news was that he could swim, but his fear of alligators kept him clinging to the overturned boat. Spotting an old man standing on the shore, the man shouted, “Are there any gators around here?” “Naw,” the old man yelled back, “they have not been around for years!” “Feeling safe, the young man started swimming leisurely toward the shore. About halfway there he asked the guy, “How did you get rid of the gators?” “We didn’t do anything, the old man said. The sharks got them. This illustration can be found to have significant meaning with a little humor. But the reality of it is that the world we live in today this event is quite believable. This got me to thinking about what the Bible says and instruct us to do, but more importantly not do about trials, tribulation and afflictions. In the midst of these difficulties, in the course of dealing with the trials and tribulations, we must be alert - "sober and vigilant" as the Bible says. This includes what we are getting into? And what are we allowing in us? What we allow physically affects us mentally and separates us spiritually. But putting those things in reverse order is God’s overcoming recipe and plan, when we put God first spiritually, we will become mentally in and with Him and will be in a physical state to fulfill His purpose in our life and others.  While Jesus wants to use the trials to develop us, the enemy would use them to devour us. Therefore, we are told to be alert, Jesus will sustain us because He cares for us. However, we must be alert and not give over to deception and the lies of the enemy. We must be wary of “short term” things that bring joy and peace. Because when God’s joy and peace are in us, it will be eternal and overflowing and anything else will be a distraction. The verbs translated "sober," and "vigilant," literally mean to be mentally calm and alert, both at the same time. Instead of being anxious, because we are dependent upon the Lord, we can be mentally calm and yet, because we know we have an enemy, we must be alert to the reality that our enemy wants to use every circumstance of our lives to destroy us. The Bible on more than one occasion uses the imagery of a hungry lion on the prowl, looking for someone to devour. The literal meaning of this word translated "devour," means to consume, or to swallow up. Satan is the enemy of all believers. He is the eternal enemy of our souls. From the very beginning of time, in the Garden of Eden, Satan has sought to destroy all that God created to be good. Today he seeks to destroy you and me as we seek to live the Christian life. How does he do this? He entices us to act contrary to God's plan and displease Him. Satan cannot have our soul, so he wants our witness. If he cannot have us for eternity, he wants to render us ineffective in the present. Because he knows human nature better than we do, he is an expert at appealing to our fallen nature, our carnal and self-desires. First John 2:15-17 says, "Do not love the world, or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. Because everything that belongs to the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes and the pride in life, is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does God's will remains forever." Satan will use the strong desires we possess to tempt us and draw us from God. Thus, we must be sober and vigilant. He causes us to believe things about God and ourselves that are not true. Since we always act out of what we believe, we must believe what is true. Scripture says that the devil is the father of all lies and a deceiver. He will appear as an angel of light. He will get us to do his bidding, making us think we are somehow serving God. We have the Word of God to lead us down the pathway of righteousness, to be a light unto our path and a lamp unto our feet. When we have humbled ourselves and found our strength in God, when we have learned the secret of dependence, and when we remain on our guard against the devil, we stand our ground. There is a direct relationship between a strong faith and the ability to live an overcoming life. Ephesians 6 tells us to take up the shield of faith, and having put on the whole armor of God we will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. James 4:7 says, "Therefore submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you. And here in 1 Peter 5 we are told to resist the devil steadfastly in our faith. When our faith is strong, when our confidence in God is unshaken, it is then, and then alone that we have turned the battle over to the Lord. As David stood before Goliath, in 1 Samuel 17,47 he said, the battle is the Lord's. In Exodus 14:14 as Moses and his people stood between the Red sea and the armies of Pharaoh, Moses told the Israelites, "The Lord shall fight for you, you must hold your peace." Throughout Scripture, whenever God's people stood firm in their faith, God came through. Whether it was Daniel in the lion's den, or Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail, when people put their trust in God, He came through. Resist the devil and stand firm in your faith. God will come through for you. Don't give up. Don't give in to discouragement. Our hope is in the triumphant return of Jesus to this earth. Our hope is in the eternal life He promises. This world is not our home. We are pilgrims, strangers, and visitors. We will suffer here for a while. That cannot be avoided. In closing we have the promise that as God accomplishes His purpose in us there are four things He will do as Peter uses to describe God. He is the God of all grace, the God who shows unmerited favor toward us. God loves us. His purpose in allowing persecution and suffering is motivated by nothing other than perfect love for us. He is the God of all grace. He will have mercy on us. As we stand firm and resisting the devil, God will. Perfect us, Confirm us, Strengthen us and Establish us Make it a great day for yourself and someone else as we live to love and share Jesus with others.

1 Peter 5:1- 10

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.