It’s summertime and you know what that means…flies slipping through open doors in your house. I’m certain you know what I am talking about. You come home from a long, hard day at work, sit down in your favorite chair and read the newspaper. About the time you get comfortable, something begins buzzing around your head and distracts you from concentrating on the latest headlines. If you are like me, you make sure the flying insect is not a bee because there is a distinct protocol for handling a fly and a bee. A bee requires clearing everyone from the room and safely removing it without anyone having a heart attack. A fly usually involves everyone staying in the same room while laughing at you swatting dozens of times without any progress. We have already had several flies in our house, mostly because we have two kids who forget to close the door. When they discover an unidentified flying object in the airspace of our home, they always assume it is a bee. I am the official “fly-stalker” in our home. This title requires stealth and the ability to react at a moment’s notice. This past Saturday, I entered our home through the garage door and saw the fly buzzing around in the bathroom. I immediately went into stalking mode by first shutting the fly in the bathroom. Then I quickly located my weapon of choice—a fly swatter. My next step was to enter the bathroom where the fly was trapped and shut myself inside. I did all this without making a mistake. For a few minutes, I stood still in the bathroom so the fly got used to my presence. All the time I had my eye on the fly, just waiting for the right time to make the kill. It landed - big mistake - and I took one swat. Mission accomplished!

My methodology for stalking that fly is identical to the way the devil preys on human beings in order to destroy their lives. Peter writes to warn his readers: “Be sober [think clearly], be vigilant [watchful]; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” He uses an illustration from the animal kingdom to describe how Satan watches and waits for the right time to bring destruction into the path of the unassuming. Although some people think sinning is fun and no big deal, Satan is just waiting for the right time to unleash the severe consequences for disobeying God’s commands. Rather than “throwing your hands up into the air” and giving into Satan’s advances, followers of Christ should remain watchful and understand their responsibility to guard their hearts and minds. Keep yourself from areas of temptation and faithfully pray for God’s help during times of testing (Matthew 5:13).

This was originally written for a local newspaper.