I Am Prey … But I Can Do Something About It

Have you seen the movie Prey? Not the one about Predator, but the Christian missionary, fleeing form militants, crashes in the Kalahari Desert and they are now prey of man and beast.

This was filmed in the Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park in California. It would have been nice to see Kalahari – a 350,000 square mile arid savanna that is part of three separate countries on the southern half of Africa. But Vasquez area is wonderful … I ventured there with my son when we did a road trip years ago. We got to hike the rocks, especially the area that was included in TV & movies, especially Star Trek TOS.

I get it, the movie is to make you believe that if you crashed in the middle of Kalahari, you better hope your affairs are in order. Lions, hyena, leopards, and the worst predator, man.

And to be stuck in Vasquez, well, you might not want to use the port-a-potty unless really desperate, I mean really desperate. And the predators? Tourists and influencers who want you out of their photos they are taking for people to react.

But there is another predator. A predator that is far more dangerous than lions, far more dangerous than hyena, and far more dangerous than man.

Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8), He is out there. He is not sleeping tonight … so the jungle, nor the village, is peaceful.

Okay. Okay. We are prey. Our adversary is seeking. He is looking to devour someone. What do we do about it? The first part of the verse says to be watchful and sober-minded. These two principles can be stretched out …

What do we do to avoid being a victim of the predator … know how strategies and be aware of his tactics.

• He lies … He is the father of lies. This is not just blatant lies but also little simple twisting of the truth. (( so know what is truth))
• He disguises himself … putting on an image that makes him look like he is helping when it’s a deception … masquerading, decieving, a wolf in sheep’s clothes. (( so test the spirit, be discerning, know what it means to walk in the light – not the darkness ))
• He blinds believers … so not just lying but blocking out the truth. (( so seek the truth, dig it our like priceless treasure – and keep your eyes on Jesus ))
• He can do signs and wonders … don’t be fooled my smoke and mirrors. It should be for the glory of God.
• He tempts us … he can’t read minds but he does know our weaknesses and what trips us up. So be alert.
• He causes illnesses, sickness, disease, and even kills … this is not saying all illnesses are from the devil, but he can make us sick. But I believe he can do nothing without the permission of the One who owns us. (( read Job ))

He will lose …

• 1 John 3:8: “The Son of God appeared to destroy the works of the devil.” 
• Hebrews 2:14: “Christ took on human nature that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil.” 
• Colossians 2:15: “God disarmed the principalities and powers and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in him.” In other words, the decisive blow was struck at Calvary. 
• Mark 3:27: “No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man.”
• Revelation 20:10 says one day the warfare will be over: “The devil . . . [will be] thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone . . . and will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” (See Matthew 8:29; 25:41)

So … Resist … and put on the whole armor of God. When you know the flaming arrows of the enemy, you can block them and quench the fire using the shield of faith. Our trust is not in our ability to resist but that our God is greater.