WATCH
OUT FOR WOLVES!
By
Ada Nicholson Brownell
A young couple, newlyweds, and very much in love, enjoyed
the freedom they gained when they got away from their parents.
One example of this new freedom was Sunday mornings.
Although the young husband and wife were good Christians, they enjoyed not
having Mom or Dad yell at them about 7 a.m., “Hey! It’s time to get up and get
ready for Sunday school!”
At first they attended Sunday school once in a while, and
then it became easier to sleep in an extra hour. Besides, they didn’t really
fit in with the other young married couples anyway. Most of them had children.
A year later they still had no fellowship in the church.
Their closest friends were not Christians. Now instead of missing only Sunday
school, they eliminated Sunday evening and Wednesday evening services and were
spasmodic in their Sunday morning worship attendance.
Even though they witnessed occasionally, their personal
devotions suffered. It seemed there was never enough time. Their circle of
unsaved friends became closer.
Things they used to regard as sin suddenly appeared
harmless. They began drinking socially. Then they used the Lord’s name in vain,
and their consciences didn’t even wince because almost everyone they knew
talked that way.
In a few months both had committed adultery. They planned
to repent. They even made an appointment with a marriage counselor. But they
didn’t live to keep it. They both died in a car accident.
This young couple separated themselves from the Lord’s
flock, and Satan, like a wolf, found them an easy target.
When a wolf attacks a flock of sheep, it first makes a
swift wild approach. If all the sheep stay together as they run away, the wolf
ends the chase. If, however, one of the sheep gets cut off from the rest or
falls behind the wolf pounces on it, snarlingly rips open the throat, and
begins to eat the flesh.
“Behold I send you forth as lambs among wolves,” Jesus told
His disciples (Luke 10:3).
The apostle Paul also warned against wolves: “After my
departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock” (Acts
20:29).
Satan uses some of the same tactics as a wolf. That’s why
he hates Christian fellowship so much. He’d rather get the Christian off alone
so he can come in for the kill.
Those who have studied wolves say that endurance, not
speed, is the wolf’s secret of success. The wolf can travel for hours at a fast
dogtrot. It lopes at 20 mph across the miles, but can go twice that fast when
it comes in for the kill.
Satan also is known for his endurance. He travels on the
Christian’s heels, waiting for the right opportunity to move in. No matter how
far we go with the Lord, Satan is still ready to come at our throats when we
least expect him.
Domestic animals are their most likely prey, and because of
this bounties have been placed on wolves. One of the most famous wolves, called
Custer, avoided capture 10 years with a $500 bounty on his head. He was blamed
for destroying $25,000 worth of domestic animals!
Domestic animals are easy victims for the wolf because they
lost their native agility and ability to defend themselves when they no longer
had to hunt for their food.
Some Christians likewise have become pampered domestic pets
with no ability to fight against the devil. These Christians insist that the
pastor or someone constantly attend to them. They don’t search the Word for spiritual
wisdom and guidance, but insist on getting their spiritual food from the hand
of another Christian.
These spoon-fed Christians become confused when Satan
attacks because they haven’t put on the believer’s defense. “Finally, my
brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the
whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the
devil” (Ephesians 6:10, 11).
The Christian can stand in the face of the enemy. The howl
of the wolf in the dark hours should not strike terror in the hearts of the
Good Shepherd’s sheep who have the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit.
Even though the Lord Jesus Christ has gone away into
heaven, He gave us power to meet the snarling attacks of Satan. For “greater is he that is in you, than he
that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
