2 Corinthians 2:11 so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.
At the risk of sounding a bit overdramatic, I’m glad to be alive.
My husband and I recently had the opportunity for a short getaway at his brother’s cabin outside of State College, PA. While there, we planned to take in the Penn State men’s hockey game at Pegula Ice Arena.
When we arrived at the cabin, I thought I heard a high-pitched beep. The source turned out to be a carbon monoxide detector. We reset the alarm, as directed, waiting to see if the beeping returned. When it didn’t, we left for the game. And were happy a beeping sound didn’t greet us when we returned. So we felt comfortable in going to bed.
Comfortable that is, until midnight, when the CO monitor started beeping again with alarming frequency. What should we do? After a brief deliberation, we packed up everything and drove the 2 ½ hours back home (in the pouring rain and heavy fog). The clock said 3:00 am when our heads hit the pillow.
Carbon Monoxide can be lethal. Its oderless, tasteless and colorless qualities make it hard to detect, and it can starve vital organs of oxygen within minutes. So it is imperative to heed warnings of its presence.
It reminds me of spiritual warfare.
Satan wants to steal, kill and destroy the abundant life God has for his children (John 10:10). Like carbon monoxide gas, our hard-to-detect enemy will try to cut off our spiritual oxygen and replace it with his poison. All too often, we don’t realize it until it’s too late. But like that CO detector, the Holy Spirit alerts us to his schemes. Satan can’t outwit us as long as we respond to the beeps.
So let’s be aware of this invisible enemy. If we’re not living in that abundant life, maybe he’s succeeding in sabotaging our oxygen supply. Maybe we need to do something drastic—like packing up at midnight and turning around in order to escape his poison.
Friend, are you listening to the beeps?
Those familiar with Penn State athletics recognize the school’s slogan: WE ARE….PENN STATE. After our misadventure at State College, I woke up the next morning grateful for those beeps. Grateful that WE ARE…ALIVE!