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 As
I sat studying in my office, I noticed a bug ambling across the tile
floor and I thought: “I need to get up and kill that bug.” But then,
I became absorbed in my thoughts again and forgot the bug, until I heard
a scratching beneath the baseboard. I turned and saw a struggle for life
that became a struggle to death. I was fascinated by the battle.
Unseen
by me, a spider had observed the bugs movements much closer than I and
when the bug had gotten in range, he had pounced on him. The bug
struggled well at first —he lay on his back and fought the spider’s
efforts by kicking vigorously and biting the spider’s legs. His
defense seemed impenetrable, but gradually a pattern of silky threads
began to form. I can see that, though the bug struggles harder, his
movements are being restricted. His struggles become spasmodic and
feeble, and now he lies quietly in his new webbed straitjacket with but
an ounce of life left in him. And soon there will be only a hollow
shell. I feel pity for him.
“Mr.
Bug,” “With but a little foresight, you could have avoided all the
terror and struggle.” “You could yet be alive, if you had walked
circumspectly and thus avoided the spider’s plot.” It is too late
now.
The
old Devil is like that spider. And the fact that God uses the figure of
a “roaring lion” (1 Pet. 5:8) does not mean that this is the way we
are able to see him. But God tells us that the devil’s activity and
intent is to devour us —we should be warned. However, because
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we are
unable to see him, we forget that he
lays his cunning plots, bides his time and judges his range. “See that
ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time,
because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:15-16).
It
grieves me to think of all the men who have ignorantly strayed into the
Devil’s corner. They fought well against his extreme evils while being
hobbled by those which appeared innocent. They neglected their strength
and protector and served the fleshly appetites. They drank the sweet
wine of success and ate the bread of false teaching, while assuring
their brethren and friends that they were not entangled therein. Until,
finally they must awaken to the fact that they have become slaves to
that which once served their appetites. The old spider has “got ‘em”
and won’t let them go. I pity them.
And,
like Mr. Bug, they become a hollow shell —the Devil’s booty, (cf.
Col. 2:8). The needless struggle and lost life could have been avoided
if they had stayed out of range of the Devil’s web of deceit (cf. II
Cor. 11:13). God, who has of old thwarted the Devil’s efforts through
faithful men, says, “Be watchful.” Let us not be so foolish as to
toy with the Devil’s vain philosophy and to taste of deceitful lusts.
Our lives are too great a price to pay. And the best way to stay alive
is to stay away.
“Thank
you,” “Mr. Spider.” Perchance what I have observed will help me
—and I didn’t have to get up and kill the bug. Jim B. Everett
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