Watch Your Step

In many parts of the world, landmines continue to be a challenge to the personal security of millions of people. According to one source, a landmine is usually a victim-triggered explosive device which is intended to damage its target via blast and/or fragments. Another source states that landmines "can be triggered by a number of things including pressure, movement, sound, magnetism and vibration. Anti-personnel mines commonly use the pressure of a person's foot as a trigger, but tripwires are also frequently employed." One particular country is reportedly littered with approximately 10 million of these; all lying in wait to be triggered by unsuspecting individuals, usually innocent victims caught in a war.

Seemingly, landmines are not big things. "Many are the size of a coffee cup saucer. Some leap into the air, exploding into a thousand metal splinters and maiming everyone within a 25 meter radius. A few are small enough to hide in a cigarette lighter." Regardless, the results are the same - the loss of limbs and life.

I thought of landmines as I considered Satan's strategy for the children of God. In trying to vigilant in our christian walk, many of us are on guard for the big things - the obvious temptations. However, what about the more subtle temptations - the landmines - that we are not so quick to recognize? It is true that a lot of believers will never be accused of stealing, murder, adultery, and so on, but we may be guilty of the "smaller things" - a bit of gossiping, constantly criticizing, slandering, complaining, and so on, which we often comfortably justify to ourselves to silence our guilty.

And what about the sins of omission - the things we should do but don't? One of Satan's strategy is to keep us from doing the things we ought to do for the kingdom of God while keeping us busy with the things that pertains to ourselves. For example, we forget that we are our brother's keeper and so become negligent in sharing good works, or words, or thoughts with them. When was the last time you recognized someone in need of encouragement and took the time to provide it?

We cannot afford to be ignorant of how the enemy works. His mandate remains the same - to steal, to kill, and to destroy (John 10:10). God didn't intend for us to be victims but victors. Let us commit to walking in the Spirit so we recognize and be equipped to avoid the landmines laid by the enemy.