LightGrams
July 16, 2026
Volume 30, Number 24
Cortlandt Koerwitz was at his vacation home in Lake Tahoe, California, when out of the corner of his eye he saw the approaching danger. His daughters had told him about a bear that had been digging through the trash, so Cortlandt picked up a can of bear spray before he left the house. That proved to be a wise decision.
When he first spotted the bear, it was charging toward him. He quickly pulled the trigger, releasing a fog of the noxious mist. In the video captured by Koerwitz’s doorbell camera, the bear immediately turned and ran in the other direction. Had the bear spray not been in Koerwitz’s hand, what might have happened next is anyone’s guess.
Dangerous beasts are still a problem in many parts of our land. In Yellowstone National Park, two individuals have been attacked by bison. In the most recent incident, an older man hiking with his young grandson was tossed eight feet into the air by the 2,000-pound animal (he survived). Moose can be a problem, as can bobcats and mountain lions in wilderness areas.
In my neighborhood it’s a lion I must be on guard against. The apostle Peter wrote about this beast many years ago: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Those who read their Bibles know that Satan is described as a powerful enemy. Peter warns us of his sinister motives – he wants to devour us!
A lot of people laugh at the idea of a devil, thinking he is in the category of the giant in the fable of Jack and the Beanstalk. That’s exactly what Satan wants us to believe; if we’re not on guard against someone we don’t believe exists, that makes us even easier targets.
But is there a “devil spray” that we can carry with us as we go about our lives? If we never know when he will spring upon us, what help is available? Peter wrote about that in the next verse: “Resist him, steadfast in the faith …” (1 Peter 5:9). Our faith in Jesus Christ is our best protection. Armed with that, Satan will have no power over us.
Consider James 4:7,8: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” Psalm 91 speaks of the benefits of making the Lord our refuge: “You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot” (Psalm 91:13). Paul’s statement in Romans 16:20 agrees: “And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.”
If you live where bears are common, carry bear spray with you. Since we are all in the territory of the roaring lion Satan, we should never start a day without living and active faith in our Savior!
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2026, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “Tim@GraceMine.org” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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