If you have ever sat in the woods for a very long period of time you may have caught a glimpse of a white-tail deer. They are beautiful in appearance. I could just watch them for hours. You might see a majestic buck before your eyes in the cold of winter as he is feeding. During the summer you will be blessed if you look out into the field and see a mother doe with her fawn nestled in close for the evening. Although these creatures are very beautiful, they too are very alert. Just one rustle of the leaves or a sound from the air, their tails go up and off they go. They raise their head ever so quickly, but without sound. As that tail goes up they are alerting the other deer around them of an approaching danger. Something they know that just doesn't fit and it will be better to take shelter than stand in waiting.
As humans we stand as a shield for our family. We stand in the gap for our friends. We must be awake and aware of all that is around us. Are we willing to throw up that tail and warn others of danger? Are we willing to give our lives for another? In our Sunday school class many years ago we were asked, "Would you give your life for a friend?" As I sat before our teacher, this was a no brainer for me. I raised my hand and said yes. No one else did. I see my life as no more important than another. I see my life as a gift just as every other life. My Savior chose to give His life so that I could have life. He was nailed to a cross for the sins of man. My sins, not any of His own. If He is willing to give His life, who am I to say no?
When there is danger we must be willing to take a stand for those around us. We find the strength of the Lord in our very weakness. Satan is feeding us daily with information leading us down wrong roads and filling our minds with treacherous lies. He is the king of deceit. He is out to destroy everything in his path. Mustn't we warn those around us?
John 10:10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
1 Peter 5:8-11 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen."
Even though Satan is there just waiting to attack. We can be strong in the Lord. We can stand together my friends. We can stand for truth. We can stand in faith without fear, because we are prepared. We are awake to all that is around us. Everything to what we allow our eyes to see, our ears to hear and what comes through our front door. We might hear the knock of evil but we can turn from it. We can stand firm just like a white-tail, warning others and protecting those around us with the very love and sacrifice the Lord has placed in our hearts. We must fill our minds with knowledge and all His wisdom to wash over us. Everything we hear is not true. Everything we see no matter how wonderful it looks is not healthy for our life. Might we learn to stand guard and protect just as soldier of Christ should do. After all, He is standing with us.
1 Peter 3:8-12 "Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling, but on the contrary, blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
