It starts with that really creepy feeling...
Dare 2 Share - It starts with that really creepy feeling. A strange tingle on the back of your neck that eventually evolves into a full on chill that travels down your spine. Suddenly everything you were thinking about goes away, and all of your senses are tuned into the surrounding environment. Even though you are completely alone, you still cannot convince yourself of that apparent truth.
What I’m talking about is the sometimes occurring sensation that you are being watched, which can really be quite upsetting. The really odd thing is that over half the time that I get that feeling, I am actually proven right. It may be my kids hiding behind a couch, or a co-worker playing a practical joke.
Isn’t it funny that once you persuade yourself that someone has an eye (or two) on you, your behavior immediately changes? Suddenly you tend to get very self-conscious, and self-awareness jumps 100%.
Then there are other times when you are being watched, and you don’t even have a clue. This can be a really good or really bad thing, depending on who has you under surveillance.
When I was a sophomore in High School, I had a surprise encounter with a notoriously violent senior who was nearly twice my size. Little to my knowledge, he had been watching me anytime I was near his girlfriend. His jealous eye covered my every action, and though I was just being sociable- he misinterpreted my innocent friendliness as trespassing on his ‘territory’. So one morning before school, I was sitting in the hallway doing my homework- when I feel myself being picked up by my collar.
“Let’s step outside” says he.
“Oh, no thanks, I’m fine in here…” says I.
“No, you don’t understand- we’re going outside so I can teach you to stay away from Kelly”
Just when I was experiencing a prayer revival and also thinking about how dentures would look on a 15 year old, I heard a familiar voice.
“What’s going on?” says Brian (Brian my friend from youth group. Brian the starting offensive lineman).
“Just stay out of this Brian, this has nothing to do with you!” says my would be assassin.
“It does now. See, Lane is my Christian brother. We’re family- so if you have a problem with him, you have a problem with me. So I’ll ask again…what’s going on?”
“Nothing…just forget it- I need to get to class”.
And off he goes- never to give me even a sideways glance again.
See what I mean? It’s all a question of what the motive is behind the folks watching you.
You may or may not know this, but you are being watched all the time. And just like me, there are good and bad forces afoot. Let me lay out the scenario for you, because I think it will have an amazing impact on your behavior from this day forward.
We’ll start with the bad. Much like the guy in my life with the anger management problem, we all are being watched by a being with a million times the destructive force of any human who ever lived. His name is Satan, and here is how the Bible describes his motives:
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (I Peter 5:8- NIV)
The evil one and his army of darkness are ever watching and waiting for you to voluntarily put your guard down. The minute you do, they are more than happy to take you outside and teach you a lesson. He’s behind your computer when you start surfing, trying to direct your mouse to some very bad clicks. He’s behind the conversations of your friends who start taking a trip down the gossip trail. He’s underneath the chair at church/youth group, waiting for your mind to wander so he can get you away from the worship and teaching. He’s even behind the table where your Bible sits, trying to get you to pick up the phone or remote control instead of the Word of God.
I’m not trying to scare you, but you should be scared. You are being watched, and there is nowhere safe from the hounds of hell.
But that’s only half the story, because just like my friend Brian, you have a Defender so strong that the Devil wouldn’t even think about taking Him on. Here’s how the Bible portrays Him:
GOD is always on the alert, constantly on the lookout for people who are totally committed to him. (II Chronicles 16:9- The Message)
Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight?
If I climb to the sky, you're there! If I go underground, you're there!
If I flew on morning's wings to the far western horizon, You'd find me in a minute--
you're already there waiting! Then I said to myself, "Oh, he even sees me in the dark!
At night I'm immersed in the light!" It's a fact: darkness isn't dark to you;
night and day, darkness and light, they're all the same to you. (Psalm 139:7-12- The Message)
Faster than a speeding demon, more powerful than your sin nature, and able to crush Satan with a single thought. God is within you, and watches your every move. However, He will rarely interfere if you get in the cage and stick your head in the mouth of the lion.
Am I trying to comfort you? You should be comforted. Jesus always has His eye on you, and He is more than willing and able to deliver you from all evil- but you must guard your thoughts, words, and actions. That’s why you must stay in an attitude of prayer, memorize God’s Word, and avoid the wrong types of situations.
So the next time you get the feeling that you’re being watched, remember that you are- and you have the choice of being taken outside and pummeled, or drawing near to God and being protected. Which will it be for you?
Application Questions:
1) How does the fact that you’re being watched affect your attitude about life?
2) What areas of your life have been ‘lion food’ lately?
3) What is one area you can work on this week (prayer, Bible study, witnessing, etc.)?
