A Barrier of Protection

When I think about protection, the first analogy that comes to mind is the blind side of the quarterback. Maybe it's because I heard so much about the Superbowl today, or maybe I just like sports illustrations! Lots of people probably have an understanding of the blind side now due to the Sandra Bullock movie, but here's the general basis. The most crucial protection for the quarterback is the guy guarding him from the defensive player trying to attack from the side of his throwing arm. As the quarterback scans the field, it's very difficult to see if someone is coming up from behind him. The protection of the blind side is a crucial role of the offensive line. If the defensive player can get to the quarterback as he's throwing the ball, there's a high percentage that the defensive team will come away with the ball.

Similarly, Satan is continually attacking us and working to tempt us out of God's will and into his ways. Although the Holy Spirit can give us a sense of what is happening in the spiritual realm, we can't see it coming, so finding ways to block it or keep ourselves from being tempted is critical.

In Exodus 12, God commands Moses to have the Israelites kill an unblemished lamb and then to take the blood and smear it on the sides and tops of their door frames. God was going to come through that evening with the final plague before Pharaoh would allow the Israelites to leave from the slavery and captivity that the Egyptians were holding them in. Taking the time and effort to kill a lamb and spread its blood on the door frame was going to save their firstborn children while all of the firstborn sons of the Egyptians would be killed.

The only way that you would not kill a lamb and spread that blood around your door is if you didn't believe that God was real! The preventative measures to save your child from death are handed to you and you have everything you need to put the plan into action. You do it! There's no question!

If we're going to do everything we need to do to save our firstborn from death, then why is it so hard to develop preventative strategies to keep ourselves from sin (death)?

God has given us everything we need to fight temptation and protect our blind side. Let's put it into action!

• Read the Bible - If your job is to protect the quarterback's blind side, and you're about to play in the Superbowl, you're going to make sure you memorize every play you might run on offense and every play they might run on defense! You're going to know the playbook inside and out. Study the Bible that same way! Understand the power that's on your side and understand the schemes of the other side. Understand the authority you have in Christ and understand the methods Jesus teaches for rebuking temptation.

• Pray - God has more power and more control over your situation than you have on your own. If your coach on the field can provide you with a better play that will help keep the enemy out, ASK FOR IT! The Coach is listening and waiting for you to ask for His help - stop trying to solve your problems on your own when the Expert is readily available.

• Surround yourself with Community - It takes an entire line to keep the quarterback protected. The line also has to work together and help each other out. If the guy next to you fails at blocking his man, the entire line fails. Surround yourself with people who pick you up when you're down, encourage you while you're up, and come alongside you when you're falling behind. Make sure the people around you know the playbook or you'll start to fail as you continually have to make up for their deficincies. Find the people that will run out into the battle field to pull you back to safety because they know you'd do the same for them. 

Finally, if your shoes aren't on tightly, tighten them. If your helmet is too lose, add padding. If your ankle is sore... WRAP IT! Don't give Satan a foothold - remove temptation as quickly as possible before you lose to it.