My brother and I spent many hours watching El Zorro while growing up. We’d spar with sticks, plastic swords, or anything that would work until one of us was down and out! Sometimes, we’d be cornered behind a couch, a chair, or a table. Since we didn’t have stairs, we’d jump on our sofas and battle it out. Our imaginations ran with us!
Several years ago, I learned about Errol Flynn. Watched him take on all sorts of villains in his action-packed movies. Both he and Zorro, and The Three Musketeers would shout, “On Guard” as they drew their swords to fight off evil. There was great action there! And so, as kids we were all the better because we leaned into the world of make-believe.
God tells us the same words! “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13).
But don’t put away that sword just yet! Because we’re admonished to: “Be on your guard and stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion, sneaking around to find someone to attack. But you must resist the devil and stay strong in your faith” (1Peter 5:8-9). In other words, just as our sword-wielding friends scanned their surroundings, and made sure their footing was safe on solid ground, Jesus wants us to be aware of the evil around us knowing who the real enemy is (Satan, not a group of people) and to take action by wielding the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17).
If we don’t have the word of God in our hearts and minds, we’re dead meat. It is imperative that we know His word, since He is the Word (John 1:1). Be ready for the enemy!
Finally, Proverbs 4:23 tells us, “Above all else, guard your heart; for everything you do flows from it.”
Knowing the word and having Jesus inside of us is like having bullets and a rifle but not knowing how to use them or when and why. From our heart flows every imaginable idea. We need to make sure everything within our heart lines up with God’s word and plans for us.
Therefore, “On guard!” Whether on stairs, sofas, beds, the floor, the ground, at work, at home, or church, be ready to corner the devil (in Jesus’ Name) and defeat him through Christ’s shed blood on Calvary!
God Bless!
Sam