Apex Predator

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

I saw a photo of a coyote. The coyote was looking at the photographer like it wanted to eat him/her. It had a dangerous look in its eye. Predators are always on the lookout for prey.

In the air you have a variety of hawk, eagle, and owl predators. In the water you have sharks, killer whales, even a variety of bass that prey on smaller species. On land that dangerous looking coyote, wolves, bears, snakes, lions, and too many others to list. 

But the Christian has just one Apex Predator: Satan, who along with his servants wants us dead. 

Back in the 1980s-90s there was great interest in spiritual things and spiritual warfare. Frank Perretti the best selling author helped to start things off with his book “This Present Darkness”. A powerful story about spiritual warfare. Even Stephen King got things going with his self described book of dark Christianity “The Stand”. Then there were numerous shows like “Highway To Heaven” with Michael Landon. “Touched By An Angel” with Roma Downey. The famous “Left Behind” series of books by LaHaye & Jenkins. Lots of occult stuff, movies and books dealing with evil, demons, and Satan himself.

I would say at its Peak there was an almost unhealthy interest in all things supernatural. And that can be a danger, focusing more on the Supernatural realm than upon God. 

The good that came out of those decades was that Christians had a growing awareness that we need to be alert to the fact there is a spiritual realm that can help and hurt us in our lives. When you are on guard against your enemy, and at the same time understand that we have angels watching over and helping us at the Lord’s command, you are much more in tune to the dangers that are unseen. And also the importance of prayer for protection, strength, and deliverance, as well as keeping us in continual contact with Jesus.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12

The Devil was not always against God and God’s people. It is hard to believe but he was at one time an angel of the highest order. He was one of the angels who had great authority in heaven. Satan was a Guardian Cherub, close to God's throne. We get a glimpse of what Satan must have been like in the Bible Book of Ezekiel.

“‘You were the seal of perfection,

    full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

You were in Eden,

    the garden of God;

every precious stone adorned you:

    carnelian, chrysolite and emerald,

    topaz, onyx and jasper,

    lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl.

Your settings and mountings were made of gold;

    on the day you were created they were prepared.

You were anointed as a guardian cherub,

    for so I ordained you.

You were on the holy mount of God;

    you walked among the fiery stones.

You were blameless in your ways

    from the day you were created

    till wickedness was found in you.

Through your widespread trade

    you were filled with violence,

    and you sinned.

So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God,

    and I expelled you, guardian cherub,

    from among the fiery stones.

Your heart became proud

    on account of your beauty,

and you corrupted your wisdom

    because of your splendor.

So I threw you to the earth;

    I made a spectacle of you before kings.

By your many sins and dishonest trade

    you have desecrated your sanctuaries.

I made a fire come out from you,

    and it consumed you,

and I reduced you to ashes on the ground

    in the sight of all who were watching.

All the nations who knew you

    are appalled at you;

you have come to a horrible end

    and will be no more.’” Ezekiel 28:13-19

That last part is important. If Satan had a wonderful, even glamorous beginning as one of God’s top angels, he will have an infamous end. While he persecutes the Church and God’s people, he does not have unlimited power over us. And he has an expiration date.

But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Revelation 20:9b-10.

Nevertheless, until that end comes we have an Apex Predator that we need to be wary of and on guard against. His method of operation has never changed. He wants to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10).

We have a deadly enemy that comes at us through our body, our appetites, our desires, and our straying thoughts. He will kill us if he can, or make us wish we were dead. We can never defeat him alone, but thanks be to God we are not alone, nor are we unarmed.

We must not only remain vigilant against this predator, we must be armed and ready. Putting on the full armor of God as outlined in Ephesians chapter 6.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

   And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:10-18

Believer in Christ. Stay well armed for the battles ahead. Testing and Trials come around again and again as much as we would like to avoid them. Stay strong in the Word, diligent in Prayer, stay close to Jesus. And always be aware that our Apex Predator Satan is out to destroy us.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to be wise and stay alert knowing that we have an enemy who is out to destroy us. But with Your help we will not only overcome, but have the ultimate victory! Amen.