Jeff Ream

 This morning when I woke up the sun was beaming through our bedroom windows and my mind immediately went to the thought of riding my motorcycle to work today.  The weather has been playing with me lately.  I will wake up many times and it will look like it’s warm but when I get outside it’s still frigid.  But this morning it was perfect.  I got Mason dressed for school and we hopped in the car for the morning routine.  After leaving Mason’s school I hurried home and grabbed a coat, my riding gloves, and my helmet and off to work I went on my motorcycle.  For those of you who want to know, it’s a 2006 Yamaha V-star Custom Midnight (blacked out engine block).  It has an 1100 twin v engine.When I ride I do a lot of talking to God.  It’s just a time when the world takes on a different look and for a moment the world stands still.  As I was riding this morning the thought occurred to me that Spiritual Warfare is a lot like riding a motorcycle.  As I am riding down the road I keep my eyes scanning the environment around me.  I look for anything that might be hazardous to me making my destination safely.  I look for bumps or potholes in the road.   I watch for any animals that might dash out in front of me.  I even think to myself, “what if that car doesn’t see me and makes that turn into me?”  To be a safe rider I have to constantly be on the look out.  Not in a placid way, but vigorously imagining every possible scenario that could happen.  Now let’s switch gears. (Pun intended)  Look what I Peter 5:8 says “Keep a cool head. Stay alert!  The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping.  Keep your guard up.”   First let me point out that the guy who wrote this was the same Peter that cut a soldiers ear off when they came to arrest Jesus.  Jesus had to rebuke him for being so hot headed.  And now years later after Jesus resurrected from the grave and ascended to heaven Peter, the same guy that blew up says “Keep a cool head, and stay alert”.  Wow something really must have changed his life drastically.  Anyway, here’s the point.  Satan does not like what is going on in your life.  He does not like what is going on here at Fellowship Church.  He is looking at every area of your life and he is sizing you up trying to determine just where and how he should pounce on you.  We must, must, must stay alert.  We must scan the horizon and look at possible hazards or objects that can harm us.  My challenge is simply this.  Be alert to your surroundings today.  Scan the horizons of your life and be ready!