"Clever Girl"
Robert Muldoon is a movie character that few people will remember. He’s not Citizen Kane or Luke Skywalker or even John Blutarsky in cinematic history- but I thought about him today.
In the middle of everything we find ourselves in, I’ve had some poignant reminders over the last week or so that we are in a war. That our enemy is so very real. That he hates our God and his followers. That he would like nothing more than to hurt and damage and destroy as many of us as possible through this.
I’ve also been reminded that he is crafty, sneaky, and plays dirty. He’s not interested in a gentleman’s duel- he is prowling about seeking whom he may devour and can pounce at any time. Like a lion from the bush.
That’s where my friend, Mr. Muldoon, comes in. Less than an hour ago, I was under the impression that I kind of had my stuff together and that this particular battle was over and that we are going to spend a lot of time picking up the pieces. Then, out of nowhere, the enemy sneaks up and pounces. It was in a casual, non-threatening, normal conversation. But the enemy was there, waiting to use an innocent comment from a friend as a means to attack.
I had been lulled to sleep. I was fooling myself into thinking that the battle had moved on and we had taken shrapnel and would be left alone to care for our own. I thought I might even be out of the enemy’s crosshairs.
That’s when I though about Mr. Muldoon. Of course, I see a lot of life in the analogies of movies, but that’s my problem for another blog. In the first Jurassic Park movie, the game warden sends some of the characters off on some rabbit trail while he goes to track the dreaded velociraptors. (Might I say how terrifying I still find the velociraptors to be!)
Just when he sneaks up on the dreaded beast and puts the animal in his sights to fire his weapon, he hears a rustling in the bushes off to his right. Suddenly, we realize its a trap- the velociraptors are not only deadly but smart, and have hunted the hunter while leading him to believe that he was in control. When he realizes they have tricked him and that his end is near, he utters the quasi-famous line, “Clever girl”- and the dinosaurs attack him.
Today, I’m reminded of the cleverness of our enemy and of the need to remain sharp and on the lookout. To guard my heart and to take up the sword, shield, and helmet every day. He got me today- I pray that I’ll be properly prepared for the next round with him. Though ultimately defeated, he is clever.
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I do not know Mr. Muldoon. But I do not suspect he had prayer warriors surrounding him. The enemy is real but we are surrounding The Sanctuary with prayer in His Holy Name! The enemy will not win!!!
Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest [your] hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 1Pet1:13.
As my favorite Christian rapper sings on his latest album, “quote your favorite Bible verse and tell the devil where to stick it”. To “gird” up one’s loins means to prepare oneself for a long and perhaps arduous journey. In my mind this always conjures up old images of soldiering, but in the scriptures, Peter is using the metaphor of an oriental man wrapping his shawarkamise around himself so he won’t trip on it before he sets out on a journey. And unlike my twisted mind, scripture admonishes us to “rest our hope in Christ. How does one do that? By surrendering all to Him. Jesus was the toughest man who ever lived – He never even complained when He was nailed to a tree or beaten. He never fought back, he just took it and even asked His Father to forgive. Why was He so tough? He rested wholly in His Father.
My friend, Eric pastors a small church in Houston, which isn’t necessarily out of the ordinary-what is odd is that his wife has suffered with terminal cancers for years, and has spent literal months in the cancer wards of MD Anderson. This week he told me that she has informed him that she is at peace in her conversation with Jesus and she isn’t going to accept any more chemo – it just hurts too much. I half expected Eric to be tearful as we discussed this,but he seemed almost relieved. The tone of my voice must have given away my curiosity, so he told me why – he wants no more suffering for her and he isn’t worried about her future because she has “rested in the Lord”.
In Bunyans. Pilgrims Progress, Christian meets the devil who before attacking him, attempts to persuade him that it is much better to be on the devils side because God’s saints always end up disgraced or murdered or suffering. “Yes, but that is glorious to their account” was Christians reply. Nuts.
You know that the life of a true Christ follower isn’t the luxurious vacation one sees on CBN or at Joyce Meyer seminars, or many of the large churches in our city – it is bloody, stinky, tiring, and sometimes downright discouraging. So why be a part of it? It’s the only hope! Paul and Peter remind us over and over that our “temporary afflictions” can’t even be compared with the glory we will be a part of. I don’t understand it all, but I do know that either you and I and many others are set aside by Christ for His special purpose or we are “of all men most miserable”. There’s nothing the devil can do to destroy or even damage that. Out of the 6 billion people on the earth, God chose you for this time and space to do what He was ordained you to do. I don’t know exactly what that is, but you can and will if you rest in him.
Jesus loves you.
Pastor Joe,
Please know that my family and I are surrounding you and The Sanctuary with prayers. I live in New Territory and know many of your members and my heart and prayers have not left you, your flock or the Young Family. I see your sign at several corners, I pray. I wake up and pray. I go to sleep and pray. We sit down to eat and pray. I love you all and he will not win this battle – we have your backs……..I am only one of thousands I believe that sense the need to surround you and your flock with love and prayers. I will watch for the glorious work that the Lord will perform out of the darkness you had fall. He will be victorious and glorious and the GLORY will be HIS! Love to you ALL.
Pastor Joe,
Please know that you and your flock are being surrounded with prayer. You, The Sanctuary and the Young family have not left my heart nor have I forgotten what you are still going through and will go through. I know and love many of your flock. I live in NT and everytime I see The Sanctuary sign, I pray for you all. I go to sleep and pray for you all. I wake up and pray for you all. We sit down to eat and pray for you and your flock. I believe that I am one of many that still feel the need to pray for you and your flock – we have your backs in a mighty way…….this I am sure of!
I look forward to the glorious works that God will show us through the darkness that has fallen upon your chuch. He will be Glorified through you and your people and we will all say, “Praise be to the Lord!” Know that you are being surrounded with prayers from near and far. We love you all.
The Skokan Family
Pastor Joe,
Sam has been under similar attack here in Ethiopia – yesterday in particular. I asked myself “who are the elders I call while I’m here?” (essentially who is my pastor?). I called on the two men we met planting a church here in the leper colony to come pray for him, for us, for the fight we find ourselves in – they listed so many of the same things here in your post and in these other comments. They read scripture over us: I peter 5:6-11, I peter 1:3-9, Phillipians 4, and others. Thank you for the reminder as well. We miss you all and are eager to be home, though our work here is not yet done.