Open Your Window!

1 Peter 5:8-11

Message No. 0611 | Twitter @GodandUs | www.wisdom-speaks.ca

When I started traveling by air, I made attempts to observe some of the things that I had learned about aircrafts and airports, both from High School education and from people who traveled by air before me. In the High School, there were those fill-in-the-gap exams where we were made to answer questions about things we had not experienced, nor could clearly imagine. We had questions like ‘When the plane landed, it ran on the ___ (road/track/runway/field) for more than one minute, before pulling off to the ___ (park/garage/taxi way/tarmac) where it taxied for a long 15 minutes to its final parking position.’ Remember that part of your English Language exams? It was called ‘Comprehension’ in those days.

One of the things that no one had told me about was that the airline’s cabin crew would make you open the window blind or covering when the plane is preparing to land. This used to not sit well with me, especially when I had travelled overnight, tired and sleepy and was sure that the bright light that would greet me when I opened the window would get straight into my eyes and deliver a rude awakening. I had to always grudgingly obey the crew, of course, but I wondered many times why they made us do that, until it was explained that every passenger needed to be aware of the totality of his or her environments when the plane was landing so if there was any risk or danger, it would not take anyone by surprise.

Seeing the totality of our environments in order to forestall any unforeseen danger is what the Bible instructs us to do in 1 Peter 5:8, which says:

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Certain things are clear in life: with closed eyes, no one can observe his or her immediate environments, and with closed windows, no one can observe what’s going on outside the house. People walk into many dangerous situations when they refuse to be mindful of their environments. A common occurrence on university campuses, especially for new students is that drinks are spiked in matriculation parties and other gatherings where alcohol is served, and people are raped in the process. A common occurrence in crowded market areas (usually in developing countries) is that people’s phones and monies are stolen, and identities are stolen from Id Cards to further defraud the victims. Many young boys and girls have been trafficked into slavery and prostitution because they (unsuspectedly) jumped at promises of lucrative jobs and fat incomes abroad. Bad things happen when people ‘close their eyes’ in the public.

The Bible says we should be sober (not intoxicated, cool-headed) and be vigilant so we can observe the roaring of our adversary who is seeking whom he may devour. However, the story does not end there. We need to be sober and vigilant to observe, and our observation should trigger us into action. In 1 Peter 5:9, the Bible says:

Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

We are to always resist the devil, whether he is roaring or not. No one should be naïve enough to think that the devil is his or her friend. If the aircraft is landing and you see danger from your open window, will you not scream and alert everyone around you and prepare to mitigate the risk? Every rational human being will take the actions necessary to protect himself or herself. Why wont we do the same in our spiritual lives? If you sense that your friends are into shady deals and are trying to enroll you into their ways of life, wont you run? Do you need anyone to advise you to run? If you observe that your friends don’t ‘give a damn’ about God, don’t go to church and don’t believe anything the Bible says, will your spiritual antenna not tell you to run before you are converted to their unbelief?

Many people have fallen victims of their environments and their friends, and have been taken advantage of because of their vulnerable situations. People have been roped into situations that have endangered their lives or their spiritual lives. Being a Christian does not exempt us from temptations and attacks of the enemy – it probably increases the likelihoods. If you are new in a country, a workplace or other environments, please be careful and don’t just jump at every opportunity without praying and checking properly. One popular slang says ‘Shine your eyes,’ which means you should be careful and watchful of certain situations so you are not duped into negative lifechanging conditions.

Though the airline crew does not foresee risks and dangerous situations when their planes are landing, still, they want everyone in the aircraft to be vigilant so the right actions can be taken should an unforeseen occurrence take place. The lesson here is not that we should go about suspecting everyone. No. Rather, we need to open our windows, shine our spiritual eyes and be ready to take any appropriate action when we sense any risk or danger. One careless moment could spell a lifetime of pain and agony. Are you prepared to run?

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 Lord I know that I am a sinner and I am unable to save myself. I am sorry for my sins and I pray that you please forgive me. I am aware that Your Son Jesus died for my sins and I accept Him as my Lord and savior. I surrender my life unto you from this moment. Please take control of my entire being and help me to be obedient to your Word, going forward. Thank you, Lord, for hearing me. I have prayed in Jesus’ name. Amen.
 If you prayed the foregoing prayer, you have just been born again. Please find a Bible believing church in your area and ask to see the pastor. Let him or her know that you have just given your life to Christ and s/he will guide you on next steps in your journey as a child of God. The Lord bless you!