Look who's walking, part 2

From: Ben Kelley
Subject: Look who's walking, part 2

I take this title as a play on a comedy movie trilogy, from the 1980's, titled "Look who's talking!" The theme of these movies has since been used extensively, namely, babies and animals talking and understanding each other. Since that idea is so far from what we normally expect, it brought a lot of laughs. I used this title and these Scripture verses in an earlier message, but I want to explore some different angles this time.

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan, "From where do you come?" So Satan answered the Lord and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it." (Job 1:6-7 (NKJV)

Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord. And the Lord said to Satan, "From where do you come?" So Satan answered the Lord and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it." (Job 2:1-2 (NKJV)

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV)

As a combat Marine in Vietnam and for over 26 years as a Police Officer, I know how easy it is to miss things when you are moving fast. If you really want to be thorough, whether you are looking to find an enemy, locate traps he may have set for you, or to prepare an attack/ambush on him, you need to move slowly. If you move fast in these situations, you are sure to miss tell-tale signs. I want you to notice how Scripture tells us Satan moves; he walks!; he doesn't run or flash by. I don't know about you, but, even though I have read each of the verses above many times, I always picture Satan moving fast and causing trouble "on the run." Our adversary is too smart for that, though, he takes time to really look us over, probing for weaknesses. Many commentators have brought out the point that God first brought up the subject of Job, as we read in Job 1: And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? (Job 1:8 (KJV) Yes, God brought up Job first, but notice that Satan didn't say, "hey, give me a little time and I'll check him out." No, Satan answered immediately, showing he was intimately familiar with Job. Now, we need to remember that, although Satan is described as being full of wisdom (Ezekiel 28), he is not omniscient (all-knowing), as God is. That means that Job had caught his eye and he had taken the time to walk around and study him. Satan is very intelligent, so he is smart enough to know he needs to take the time to study his enemies. Do not be fooled into believing you can just "hide out in the bushes" as a "secret Christian" and escape Satan's notice. I know many do believe that, so they try not to call attention to themselves by witnessing of and serving God. That might work, if Satan was just flashing past, but we've already seen he isn't. That's why he tempts you in your weakest areas; he has taken the time to study you.

Notice that Satan's motive in walking about is to find someone to "devour", translated from a compound word meaning, "to drink down, completely." Satan has no "good intentions!!! Other Scriptures tell us, The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: (John 10:10 (KJV) He has no other purpose in mind. Your total destruction is his desire. I stress this as a reminder that no matter how good his offers may appear, don't fall for his lies; remember his purpose!

Satan is a wicked and powerful adversary, but lest we think of him more highly in our mind than he deserves, we need to look again at the passages above, where we will notice Satan's walking is "to and fro." This reminds us that, although he is a powerful foe, he is not God; he is not able to be everywhere all the time. He has to move to get to each place. Yes, he does have his demon helpers, who together can cover a lot of territory, but they still have to move to get "to and fro!" Our protector and mediator, the Lord, is everywhere, all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-sufficient. As I have said many times, God doesn't have to go anywhere to be there, HE already is, everywhere!

Each of us, as believers, present a tempting target for Satan. He, or his demons, have probably "walked" around you a number of times, checking you out as an intended target. You can be pretty sure he is well aware of your weak points and has come up with a well thought out "plan of attack." You, in your own power, are no match for him, in any way, shape, or form, but our God is!! That is why it is so important that we not "run around" in our Christian experience. We need to make sure we walk also. Just as in the case of Satan, this makes us better able to spot his traps and thereby avoid them. We need to practice "walking", as Paul tells us in the following two verses: (1) This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16 (KJV), (2) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25 (KJV)

This is something I really need and have to apply in my life. I grew up being taught it was very important to "get things done", which has instilled in me the practice of "staying on the move." I don't work awhile, rest, and then go back to what I was doing. I keep at it until I am finished, which, of course, keeps me flitting around "getting things done." It may sound like a good characteristic, but it is not, for it often keeps me from "taking time to be holy," I end up doing a lot, but I realize it is often done in my power, not God's.

Let us each remember the enemy as he walks around, and for once, follow his example. As the song by the instrumental band, the Ventures, stated in its 1960 title, let us "walk, don't run!"