All Noise - No Bite!

Like I do on most mornings, I turned on the local Christian radio station soon after getting up today.  After showering and getting ready, I sat on the coffee table to put on my shoes when, for some reason, I perked an ear when I heard an ad asking for donations for the Tulsa area’s “Meals on Wheels” program.  I paused for a moment with one shoe half on and laughed aloud as I remembered a neighbor that we had years ago who would share her little plastic containers of fruit cocktail with our family, that she received with her daily “Meals on Wheels” deliveries.  That got me to thinking…

When we first moved into our house in Santa Rosa on Putney Drive where we lived for about ten years before moving to Oklahoma to attend Bible School, we had an older neighbor on one side of us that others on the block warned us about.  She was a lady in her late seventies or early eighties, spoke English with a thick foreign accent and was not known to be very friendly.  In fact, most of the adults and especially the kids on the street gave her house a wide berth when they passed by it.

Well, if anything, the comments of those good-meaning folks only seemed to encourage my wife even more, to stroll right over to the neighbor’s house whenever she saw her outside.  Piper just had a way of seeing right past the tough front that some people put up.  She laughed when they tried to be irritable and with her cute smile, sweet words and abundant humor… and patience… eventually won them over in quick order.  Come to think of it, she did the same thing with the couple across the street!  But that’s a whole story of its own!  So, let’s stick to the little lady who I think was from Poland.

Before long, Piper knew her whole story of how she lived alone and felt sad that her family who lived out of town didn’t visit her much.  She quickly realized that the gal was highly intelligent, had strong opinions when it came to politics, was concerned about how things were changing in our country but yet was very thankful to be here as it was so much better than the living conditions and economy in her country of birth.  She was also hard of hearing so you had to speak loud and slowly when you talked with her!  We would laugh at times when she would turn up the volume on her large screen TV so loud that it felt like we were in her family room with her… while we were sitting on the deck in our backyard!

Since Piper was homeschooling and was home during the day, our neighbor would come over fairly often and bring little treats for Piper and the children.  I think that our kids began to see her as their friendly, but yet pushy, distant aunt!  I don’t recall her name, but I remember that it was unusual and started with a “V.”  The little fruit cocktail containers became a silent joke for us because she was so pleased to be able to share them with us, except none of us liked them!  They just had a funny, stale, flat and super sugary taste, but since we didn’t want to spoil her joy of giving, we would all smile big and thank her profusely!

Piper even got to know her family when they started visiting more often when it became increasingly apparent that she couldn’t stay in her big house anymore and finally had to move out of town with one of her children’s family.  Piper spent a fair amount of time consoling the lady about the move and encouraging her about the good things ahead!

I was again reminded of our special neighbor while reading from 1 Peter 5:6-10 later this morning.  It’s the section where the Apostle Peter is talking about our need to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God and cast all of our care upon Him.  But the part that really got my attention was when he continued and talked about the enemy of our faith telling us to: 

“Be sober, be watchful; your adversary the devil walks about as a roaring lion, seeking someone he may devour. Resist him, being steadfast in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” (I Peter 8-9 EMTV)

The part about walking around “as a roaring lion” is what got me remembering our neighbor!  People on our block tended to stay away from her because she walked around just like that!  But she was all noise.  Yes, her tone could be pretty scary at times… but she had no bite!  Once you took the time to get to know her, as Piper did, she was quite sweet… pushy… but sweet!  Now, don’t get me wrong!  I’m not saying that the devil is sweet underneath all his hate and deception… not at all!  But he sure does put up a scary front at times!

But like my neighbor, once you get familiar with his tactics, his lies and the way that he likes to twist the facts of God’s Word… he’s got no bite… It’s just a lot of noise!!  Afterall, doesn’t I John 4:4 tell us that “greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world?” (EMTV) Jesus Himself gave the final word concerning the devil’s power saying: “The thief (the devil) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. (but) I have come that they (you and me) may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10 EMTV)

So, just because someone or something is a little scary and noisy… it doesn’t mean that they or it can have any power over you or your life!  I Peter 5:9 tells us simply to resist them or it with and/or through your stand of faith!  Simple right… but not always easy!  It takes a commitment, determination and an unfailing trust in God and His Word!  And it IS possible!

Have a wonderful weekend!  It is supposed to be cool but sunny here.  I hope it is terrific wherever you are… and if you come across some disturbing noise… don’t let it fool you!  Just say with me… “I am expecting the truth of God’s Word to silence any fake roaring lions in my way today!”