Oncoming Train

Once, when pausing from our bike-ride to watch a train go by on our nearby tracks, my brother and I joked about the uncanny and incomprehensible urge to throw ourselves in front of an oncoming train when we stand near one. Would that be suicide? Of course. Would that be stupid? Of course. Would that be inexplicable? Of course. Would we ever do it? Of course not.

The point of the story? Well, I think there can be a very important lesson learned. First of all, though, I don't want you to think me and my brother are crazy. Perhaps, you've never stood close to a train charging by. Or perhaps you've never sensed that urging feeling, which is certainly demonic--for it is quite subtle and often easily ignored--I mean, it's absurd, after all!

But the important lesson to learn is this: The devil's temptations aren't always logical or clever; sometimes they're just powerful.

The Bible says that the devil is like "a roaring lion," (1 Peter 5:8-9) quite powerful imagery! Although this passage does go on to imply a stealth that the lion(devil) uses to devour its prey(us), sometimes the lion(devil) doesn't need to be sneaky. Sometimes he can just overpower his target. So think when the devil combines his power with other elements, like emotions, circumstances, etc.,etc.. That can be downright irresistable!

So where's the hope? In this verse: "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4)