NATURAL AND SPIRITUAL KILLERS

One colony can eat an entire cow in a matter of hours.  They dissolve all types of flesh.  They are incredibly intelligent and extremely fast.  Harvard-trained insect scientist and associate of the Smithsonian Institution, Mark Moffett, describes these frightening creatures.  He says, "The really critical thing is the way they usually attack, the way they work together in these massive raids that they organize" (www.npr.org).  What is amazing is that they literally attack blindly.  They cannot see to form an image and can only tell day from night.  They coordinate and swarm together to bite, poison, and devour their prey alive.  They coordinate their attacks and work well together, but it is for destructive means.  Army ants, all 130 species, are frighteningly efficient killers.

Satan has many willing accomplices trying to effect the same spiritual result.  They coordinate their efforts, even though they are of varying disciplines and institutions.  His desire is to devour the souls of men (1 Pet. 5:8), and he will prove successful in a majority of cases (cf. Matt. 7:13-14).  Whether it is striking at the moral sensitivities of people through TV, movies, music, and the internet or indoctrinating people to believe in Godless evolution through museums, text books, popular magazines, and even children's media or promoting greed through politicians and corporations, he is intensely focused on bringing about man's eternal demise.  He relishes our misery and wants our destruction.  His soldiers may be attacking blindly, but they are effective.  We sell short this formidable foe to our own destruction.

As ferocious as army ants are, there are many ways to defeat them.  Sprinkle cornmeal or Cream of Wheat where they can eat it.  They cannot digest these and swell up and die.  Insect sprays, bleach, and apple cider or repulsive or noxious to the creatures.  Keeping a clean house is a good preventative.

Likewise, the Bible shows that our imposing, spiritual foe is eminently conquerable.  James says resist him and he will flee from you (4:7-8).  Paul says to stand against him (Eph. 6:10ff).  Jesus defeated him by knowing and properly using scripture (Matt. 4:1ff) and so can we.  By understanding and withstanding the world's agenda, we are assured of ultimate victory (1 Jn. 2:15-17; 4:4; 5:1-4).  The coordinated attack of the enemy might even overcome our flesh, but they need our consent and cooperation to overcome our souls (cf. Matt. 10:28).  Respect the power of this enemy but realize the infinitely greater power of our Friend!

 

--Neal Pollard