Yesterday, I watched CNN’s analysis and coverage of the tsunami that hit American Samoa last month. It was troubling to see so many people displaced from their homes and living in emergency shelters. More disheartening, however, were the allegations that the Samoan officials didn’t have a tsunami warning system in place. This was especially troubling because Samoa is near Japan, where almost 200 tsunamis have occurred. It seemed like the emergency response coordinators let the good times fool them into thinking that a tsunami could not happen in Samoa.
Unpreparedness can be devastating, especially in our spiritual lives. In this text, however, Luke forewarns us not to let spiritual progress blind us to the reality of continual spiritual persecution. As Jesus delivered the knockout blow to Satan, who tempted Him in the wilderness, Matthew notes that angels came to help Him (see Matthew 4:11). After the angels strengthened Jesus, notice what Luke records: “he (Satan) left him (Jesus) until the next opportunity came” (Luke 4:13, New Living Translation). In other words, although defeated in one area, Satan will return, inevitably, to attack in another area. We’d be wise to prepare for his return.
Peter said, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8, New Living Translation). I implore you to heed his advice. Use your strength to predict where the devil will attack next. Don’t let him catch you unprepared!