Keep Your Eyes Open
Recently an elementary school was put on lockdown because a teacher reported seeing a mountain lion near the campus. The principal showed due diligence. The natural area where the school is located is habitat for a variety of animals, including the wild cats, but none had been seen near the school before.
It turned out to be a false alarm. The alleged mountain lion was discovered to be “a fat orange cat named George eating a rat.”
Although this incident caused laughter, nobody blamed the principal for the efforts he made. Better to err on the side of caution.
Many who live near the wilderness have learned to beware of encountering predators. Shortly after moving to our home in Gold Beach, a bobcat wandered into our backyard and looked around for a few moments before running off into the woods. I got some photos from inside the house. You probably have sighting stories of your own.
There is a spiritual lesson. An unseen enemy lurks around us at all times. The Bible warns: “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5.8 NLT).
This is a call to clear thinking and spiritual discernment. Avoid carelessness. We need a healthy balance of caution and relaxation. In big decisions we need to be guided by prayer and informed by Scripture.
It is important in the small stuff too. Forgetting an appointment, missing a deadline, a spontaneous emotional purchase – these can hurt, as hard experience shows.
The most important decision is to keep our spiritual eyesight clear as we navigate the sometimes precarious trip to eternity. We must keep believing: “Stand firm against him,” wrote Peter, “and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are” (1 Peter 5.9).
The good news is that God wants you to be a winner, and He is more than willing to help you: “In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation” (1 Peter 5.10).
The school has taught a lesson: eyes open at all times.