Hijacked!

1 Pet. 5: 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, walks about like a roaring lion

You are the pilot and all is going well as you cruise at 38,000 feet with your hands on the controls of the jumbo jet. The voice calls and you open the door to let the stewardess in. Cold metal presses against the back of your head and voice says: “This is a hijacking. I am now in control of this aircraft. Do not use the radio or try to contact anyone. Do exactly as I say, or everyone on board will die. Now change your direction and fly to ...” Terror grips you as you realize that this is real. Bruce Willis or Wesley Snipes will not come to your rescue and whatever you do will affect the lives of the over 300 passengers.

But why did you let in the hijacker? The voice was attractive but it hadn’t really sounded like the stewardess. Since 911 and especially since MH 370, there were strict rules about opening the cockpit door. You have acted stupidly. The passengers on board trusted you, the airline you work for trusted you, but you have carelessly betrayed that trust.

Ok, so it’s just imagination (or a good idea for a nightmare), but in reality this drama plays out so often. You are on a journey to a destination that God has charted for you. You are in charge of yourself, a valuable “piece of equipment” that cost the life of Jesus. In addition, there are many others whom God has placed in your life and whose safe arrival at their destination will be affected by what you do. Your mind is the cockpit, the only place from which you will keep in touch with Traffic Control (God) and where you will make the critical decisions needed to keep your “aircraft” going.

You know that some things are dangerous, but they sound good, look good or taste good and you let them in to your life where they now take over control of your cockpit and endanger your life and the lives of others. Abuse of drugs and alcohol, anything that interferes with the way you think and decide is not only dangerous, it is a sin. Sometimes it is not a hijacker, maybe just a mouse, or a bee that distracts you – you know – like overwork, bad eating habits or evil meditation. Whatever it is, keep that door locked. “Guard well the avenues of the soul”.

Dear Lord, Satan is such a deadly deceiver. Make me wise as I seek to guard my mind against his deadly attacks, in Jesus name I pray, amen.