Be vigilant! Be on guard!

The clock struck 1.00p.m. as Bella rushed out to catch a bus to school. She had just returned from her part-time job and going for her first class for the day. The bus was nowhere in sight. She had checked the bus timetable several times on her phone and thought it was due in five minutes. She had been standing for fifteen minutes. Just then, her phone beeped. She reached into her handbag to retrieve it. She had a message from Nicola.

“Where have you been girl? I have been trying to reach you!” wrote Nicola

“Sorry girl, I switched off my phone at work and only got it back on few minutes ago”, replied Bella.

“Never mind, have you seen my new video on TikTok?”, asked Nicola.

“Nooooo! What’s it about?”

“It’s those dance steps I was practicing in the studio last weekend”, replied Nicola

“For real? Wooow!!!” exclaimed Bella

“Yeah, I know. You should see Ben’s comments, he’s such a cool guy”, Nicola responded.

“OK, will check it out now, can’t wait!”

By now, Bella had her back to the road and had slightly moved away from the bus stop. She opened TikTok and was smiling to her phone, frantically scrolling through the comments to find Ben’s comments.

The bus rode past. She thought she heard the bus and turned her back only to find it was already two stops away from her, stopping at a traffic light. She started running towards the bus and realised it was no use. She will never catch up with the bus.

In our pursuit of God and His righteousness, we are sometimes side-tracked, overwhelmed and distracted by what the Bible calls pleasure (indulgence).  1 Timothy 5:6 says but she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. We also understand in 2 Timothy 3:2-4 that in the last days…men will be lovers of themselves… lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.

No wonder the bible cautions that we should be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). We can stay on guard if we continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2).

Are you taking a quick break from God because you are not sure this Christian life is working out well for you? Maybe you just can’t find time to pray, read and study the bible or even attend church services? You might even be attending church meetings regularly, but your heart is far from God?

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41). Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober (1 Thessalonians 5:6).

Be on your guard, hang in there.  There is strength and grace for you to go on – it’s yours if only you ask.