I was awakened abruptly by the seemingly purposeful, very quiet twisting of the doorknob on my front door. It sounded differently than when my son comes home. This was NOT him – and whoever it was, they did not want me to know they were entering. They were being painstakingly quiet, and moving very slowly. I glanced at the time. It was 2 a.m. Frozen, I wasn’t sure if I should dial 911 or get out of bed and grab my gun.
All sorts of thoughts ran through my mind. I knew my gun was in the corner in a drawer. I’d have to get out of bed, make my way across the room, and get it out of its case. The ammunition was in my dresser drawer on the other side of my room. I’d have to open the box, and then load my gun. How would I ever do all of this in the dark?
It might just be quicker to dial 911, I thought. But if someone is coming in to rob or kill me, they will be finished before the police get here. Knowing at this point that I had nothing to lose by speaking, I yelled out, “Ian??!!!”
“No, it’s me – Jared. Sorry Miss Rita.”
“Whew!”
This all happened during a recent visit from my son, home from college during the holidays. He had brought a friend home with him, and apparently, Jared couldn’t sleep and had decided to go for a walk.
Well, we laughed about that for the next couple of days, but it really made me think about some things.
I haven’t practiced shooting in quite some time. Loading my gun takes time. I am not as intimately familiar with it as I should be if I expect to be able to protect myself. I would never have been able to load it OR aim it in the dark. I had purchased this gun so that I could protect myself, but owning it and not being appropriately prepared to use it did me absolutely no good whatsoever.
It’s a lot like the Bible that sits next to my bed. God’s very words breathed onto the pages, and without a doubt – my most powerful weapon. I’ve heard pastors say, “Open your Swords …..” Oh, if only I lived as though I truly believed that!
Over and over in Scripture, it speaks of writing God’s Word on our HEARTS. No one.. NO ONE, can take from you what is written on your heart.
How can I be ready to make a defense to anyone who asks me the reason for my hope, unless I know the Truth? How can I be assured that I will not fall for a lie from someone wanting to deceive me, unless I know the Truth? How can I be sure of God’s Sovereignty, faithfulness, love, and commitment to me, unless I know His Word? How will I get His Word written on my HEART, unless I pick it up and breathe it in, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
There are nights, especially after a long day at work and an early wake-up the following morning, when I glance at my Bible next to my bed and wish that osmosis were possible. And there are nights that I just fall asleep, with the excuse that I must get enough sleep. But I know that my Bible just simply sitting closed next to my bed is of as much use to me as my gun was across the room in the dark, and not loaded! The truth is, however, that God ALWAYS makes up for my lack of sleep when I commune with Him by diving into His Word. He ALWAYS gives me a rested feeling, and He ALWAYS speaks to me through it. I actually believe He not only longs to hear from me – He longs also, to speak to me through His Word!
I need to be intimately familiar with His Word, just like an Army Sniper in the front lines of a war zone needs to be familiar with his weapons. After all, “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12.
And my weapons in this warfare are also not of the flesh, but have divine power to destroy strongholds! (2 Corinthians 10:4)
My having been woken up and frightened was a reminder of the life-saving necessity and urgency with which I need to study the Word, and an encouragement of the power that all true believers possess to fight this fight until He returns as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Oh, how I look forward to that day!
Now, if you’ll excuse me – I have some reading to do. I hope you, too, will reach for your weapon, dust it off, and open it up. Our Father is also longing to speak with you through His Sword tonight.
Sweet Dreams!
Thank you. This has been on my heart and mind, lately. I miss you, my mentor and friend.