I hate killing anything, but rest assured just before writing this I saw a roach excitedly scampering across the kitchen floor. I did not even hesitate to kill it. The cold weather undoubtedly caused this one lone roach to appear. In the many months I have stayed where I am, I have only seen a total of about three or four roaches. Though I hate using chemicals, and use them sparingly, I use them when truly needed. I simply hate roaches and make it abundantly clear to those roaches they are not welcome here. Yes, friend, there is a message in this. And it’s not about roaches! It is about one way, way worse than a roach – and the stance we should take against that despicable wicked one.
Isn’t it something how quick we can be to get rid of a roach, ants, a mouse, a bee, etc. on one end and how dedicated we are to protect our property from robbers, intruders, and any other kind of big harm and theft on the other extreme? But then when it comes to the devil, sometimes we are super sloppy, lazy, ignorant, negligent, irresponsible, timid, intimidated, etc. in recognizing him and his despicable tactics and resisting him and causing him to flee!
The Bible makes abundantly clear the devil is real. That the devil tempts and attacks us and tries to keep us from having a relationship with God in the first place. And that the devil for those of us who already have one tries to damage our relationship with God and distract us from Him and cause us to fall short in fulfilling our life purpose for God.
The devil is horrible and heinous and is on a three-fold mission to steal, kill, and destroy. And yet we get rid of roaches and ants with more steadfastness and vigilance and vehemence than we submit to God and resist the devil and stomp all over the devil and his sickening ploys to wreck our lives and relationship with the Lord.
Let this message be a loving reminder to us all when we see even the slightest sign of the devil at work against us to turn to God and the Bible and follow God’s instructions to secure victory through and for the Lord Jesus Christ, AMEN!
Please read the following verses and find in them not what to do when you see a roach but what to do when the devil comes at you.
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10 NKJV
“But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” James 4:6-10 NKJV
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” 1 Peter 5:8-10 NKJV
“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. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Ephesians 6:10-20 NKJV