Mugged the Wrong Guy

Recently in Chicago, a 24-year old man, named Anthony Miranda, approached a parked car with a man sitting in it.  He asked the man in the car for a lighter.  When the man didn’t have one, Anthony pulled out a gun, demanded that the man get out of the car and hand over his money. 

What Anthony didn’t realize is that the man he had just chosen to mug was an MMA fighter and an Ultimate Fighting Champion.  At a moment when Anthony was distracted the “victim” leapt into action.  He grabbed the gun and wrestled Anthony to the ground.  By the time the police arrived, Anthony had two black eyes, a face full of cuts, and had shot himself in the ankle.  He made the mistake of attacking someone who was well prepared for it, and he paid the price.

As I read about this incident, I was impressed with the value of preparation.  Temptations will attack us, often when we don’t see it coming.  But if we are properly prepared, then like this MMA fighter, we’ll be able to make short work of defeating that temptation.  If we haven’t prepared ourselves, then we may find ourselves unable to resist the attack on our souls.

Paul urges us in  Ephesians 6:10-18 (NKJV) ^“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints”

Are you properly prepared and equipped so that you can take your stand against the schemes of Satan?