I was driving to work the other morning and on the side of the road trying to hide behind his cute, masked-bandit outfit was a little raccoon. Those creatures think they are so sneaky. We used to be bombarded by those pesky little creatures when we would camp. We would be sitting around the fire and raccoons were under our chairs and getting the marshmallows. One morning I looked out and saw raccoons had opened our cooler, removed the cottage cheese and ate every last little curd and left the plastic container behind. We thought we had everything secured. How did they get in the tightly closed cooler?!
They seem to be harmless but they are actually very mean little creatures. They have sharp teeth and sharp little claws and will hiss at you if you get close to them. I’ve seen them do damage to a lot of things they wanted to destroy. They seem cute on the outside but get too close to them or not keep things secure and they can do damage.
The raccoon acts a lot like the devil in our lives. He comes masked pretending to be something he is not. He waits patiently and works best in the dark of sin. He gets us to trust how cute he is and then he moves in for the kill. He gets us on his side and then seeks to destroy. He shows up when we least expect him – when we think we are protected from the enemy. He does his damage and then moves on to the next site.
Don’t be caught off guard by the mask and the seemingly fun and cute ways of the devil. Once he gets his claws in you, he doesn’t care if he hurts you or destroys you. John 10:10 (NIV) – The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.
Reach out to the Saviour instead of the Destroyer and enjoy the benefits of a life with Jesus. He is as real as it gets. No masks. No claws. No destruction. Just a life full of peace and protection. Move over you little masked bandit. You have been destroyed by the Real Hero!
