“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1Peter5:8.
Another version of the Bible, the Contemporary English Version renders it thus: “Be on your guard and stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion, sneaking around to find someone to attack.”
The world around us is in a loud bustle; the noise is so loud, that the mind of the worldly is completely drowned. As the clock ticks away and time flies away, men of the earth are overwhelmed by the developments, inventions and their excitements. It is all about existentialism, materialism and Epicureanism.
The nations are forgetting God –the people have drifted away from the path of righteousness. They are lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God,(2Tim 3:4), despite the fact they have “a form of godliness.” This is the time –perilous time the Bible speaks about in the third chapter of the second epistle of Paul to Timothy.
Amidst these earthquakes of breakthroughs and new epochs is a subtle spiritual lull and amnesia, discernible by only those who are “sober and vigilant.” Gradually, Satan is leading millions to destruction and eternal damnation in slavish shackles and in an unprecedented magnitude beyond any human historical record.
This renewed slavery is not across the Atlantic, but from the earth to a grimy eternity. Many are overwhelmed with iniquitous wine as they are ferried along, they are numbed from any pain, the sweet taste of sin have veiled the poisonous consequences of the sinful life.
Soon, and very soon, it will be too late. The cries of regret with rend the air and many will be lost forever. This deception is the “mystery of iniquity” that is already working against the souls of men and women that Jesus Christ had died for the redeemed.
Today we cry out to the world to wake up and be vigilant. “There my people are gone into captivity because they have no knowledge…” Isaiah 5:13. The one who leads into captivity is the same who deceived the woman in the Garden. That “Old Serpent.” He is still in the business, the careless and ignorant will fall at his magic.
Peter the apostle wrote in such a solemn call to the church: “Be sober, be vigilant…” To be sober is to be “serious, sensible and solemn.” Not under the influence of intoxicants. To be vigilant is to “keep careful watch for possible danger or difficulties.” You cannot be vigilant if you are not sober.
Why sober?
This is because we have a crafty enemy. He is called the Adversary – an enemy, one who opposes to frustrate or spoil anything you are seeking to achieve. We have a goal. The goal is to please and do His will and finally to rest with Him in eternal rest. The adversary has a goal. To make us displease God and never do His will, so we suffer with him in an ever burning hell; and he pursues this with the meanest craft and resilience. Many have fallen to the devil’s mischief, but the vigilant (prudent) will discern his moves and defend themselves.
The Christian cannot afford, in these last days, to be careless about his life. Decisions must be taken in a serious manner, especially with God’s approval. We must work and walk in God’s light and in accordance with his word.
“A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished,” Proverbs 22:3.
We need to be sober to help others find the way. Unless you can see through the mist of the present day religious confusion, you do not stand the chance of point out the way to others. We cannot be part of the problem to find solutions. We must quit ourselves as champions of the Kingdom of God and reach out to the lost, bearing the banner of Christ with sincerity and love.
Again the fall in the Garden of Eden is a classical example of how not to give the devil a chance. Eve was too simple and she fell into the snare of the devil. The severity of the fall should be the very reason why we should be sober and vigilant against the devil.
The blessedness of heaven is too priceless to be treated lightly. We have a price at the end of this race. A careless move can ruin the entire rehearsals. We are prepared for heaven and so forward we march. We are called to be soldiers, and a careful watch will keep the enemy at bay. We must at all time be kitted with the full armour. We guard our faith and souls awaiting the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. No letting on this side. We must hold fast lest we fall.
How To Renew Our Vigilance
- Spiritual Life – to attain and maintain spiritual life is to abide in Jesus Christ. John 15:1-5. To have Christ is to be washed from sins and filled with His word and Spirit. The fruits will be good and glory will be to Him who gives the increase.
- Meditate – Psalm 1:1-3. Meditate day and night – Only when we delight in the law of the Lord can we give ourselves to them. Our minds produce our world, and if we want to be victorious, we must create a strong bond between us and God.
- Prayer – Peter links soberness and prayer when he wrote “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” 1Peter 4:7.
- Fellowship – Christian fellowship is meant to help believers receive what they need, retain what good they have and discard what is poisonous to their spiritual lives through admonition, supports, godly examples and sharing in love. Acts 2:42.
We are not the children of the night, we are of the day. “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation,” 1Thessalonians 5:8. It is my prayer that each one of us will take the wise steps needed to help us reach our eternal goals in Jesus’ name. Amen.