I talked about the conference we attended last time. I'd like to share another story from there if I could. We went a day early because they were having some extra workshops and I took in the "Hazardous Tree Removal" seminar. It was an all day event and it was very helpful. The presentor was from FISTA (Forest Industry Safety and Training Alliance). He has 30 years of experience in the logging industry. We spent the morning in class learning about handling the chainsaw safety, proper safety equipment, etc. In the afternoon we went outdoors to practice safe felling techniques. Our focus was on "Bore Cutting" a tree. This allows you to "fall" the tree just about anywhere you want it to go. It was amazing! I have heard of "bore cutting" but didn't know how to do it. The guy took a tree that was leaning a good 4 feet in one direction and dropped it in the opposite direction. He was good. But as good as he was, and as much expereince as he had, he still made a potentially deadly mistake. It was on the very first tree he cut down. It was an Ash about 12 inches in diameter, so not a huge tree by any means. He missed his mark by just a little bit and it got hung up between two trees as it fell. He talked about what happened and then he was going to cut it free and get it on the ground so it was safe. He was cutting about 12 ft off of the log when it came free and swung towards him, taking his feet out from under him and he toppled right over the log-saw still running- head first to the ground. Fortunately, the tree was stopped prematurely-just as it connected with his legs-by another tree, or he would have broke both of his legs (or worse).
I felt a little embarrassed for him, and it was quite awkward, but we all laughed it off.
So how could a guy with so much experience make a mistake like that? Well first off, that's the danger of logging. Trees are sometimes unpredictable. They do things even the most experienced logger can not anticipate. Secondly, I think he underestimated that tree. He thought it was a piece of cake and didn't take all the necessary precautions. And thirdly, he was distracted from his work because he was busy teaching us at the same time he was felling that tree.
There's a lesson in this story for Christians.
We live in a world dominated by our adversary, the devil. He wants to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). The bible warns us in many places to be on gaurd against his evil schemes.
Unfortunately many Christains don't heed these warnings.
We don't realize that, while not "all-knowing", the devil is a spiritual being with great knowledge and he can and will be unpredictable in his attacks against us. He is going to "hit us where we least expect him."
Similarly, we seriously underestimate him. A recent survey concluded that most Americans don't even believe there is a "literal" Satan. Underestimating your enemy is always disasterous.
Finally, we should be careful not to be distracted. We live in a physical world. We see, we touch and we feel. We go to work, purchase the items we need, raise our families and go on vacation. Life is all around us and we don't realize that there is a spiritual world, that is just as real, all around us as well. In fact, we are primarily spiritual beings, not physical. This body, your career-this planet-are all only temperary, but we have an eternal soul that will live forever. We are spiritual beings and there are spiritual forces working all around us. Now, it is not like Star Wars, with "the dark side." The forces of evil (Satan) have already been defeated. Satan is not equal to God! But God has allowed him the power to influence human beings for a time. Therefore, the bible warns us, to be on gaurd at all times. We must be vigilant, constantly working to strengthen our relationship with Christ, who as defeated our enemy, so that we will not be taken captive by the enemy and his evil schemes.
So don't let Satan distract you. "Let us keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2).
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