This month, we are staying at a palm oil plantation in the jungle of Malaysia. Upon arrival, we quickly noticed that we were not in Kansas anymore so to speak. Monkeys jumped from tree top to tree top chattering at us in the front yard. Wild boar leave the ground around the palms rooted up and leeches are a constant plague when walking outside. We are living in a world that is unlike anything I have ever experienced. I keep waiting on a Tyrannosaurs Rex to break out of the foliage because I feel like we are staying at Jurassic Park. To sum it up, I love it here. However, from day one we received some disturbing news.
Along with the critters I mentioned above, the plantation is also home to King Cobras. This thought continually turns through our minds as we are knee deep in grass or ankle deep in the marsh fertilizing the trees. While discussing the snake population, our contact gave us an important piece of advice. He said that King Cobras are very dangerous, but they are very afraid of humans. In order to avoid them, all you have to do is make a lot of noise and they will clear out of the way.
This piece of advice has resulting in some hilarious walks through the jungle as I try to make as much noise as possible. I believe the snakes must think an 8 legged elephant is coming their way with as much noise as I create. That being said, I have not been able to shake the advice of our contact. It has rolled around in my head all month. "Very dangerous, but very afraid of us…make lots of noise and they will clear out of the way."
While thinking about this advice, I could not help but begin to think about Satan. Standing alone, Satan is very dangerous. The evils of this world are created and nurtured by him. However, much like the King Cobra, he is very afraid of "us" (Christians). Following that line of reasoning, I believe that if we begin to make a lot of noise, he will begin to clear out of our way. James 4:7 says, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." Therefore, I believe it is time to make some noise of resistance.
I definitely do not want to get on a soap box, but I believe for too long the church has been too quiet. In the silence, Satan has been allowed to operate freely. God has been kicked out of schools, the government…and to a degree out of churches because Christians have been to quiet. Throughout the Bible, God has used noise to defeat Satan. For example, in Joshua 6, the walls of Jericho were brought down by the blowing of trumpets and the shouts of God's people.
Please don't think I am saying Christians should run around screaming all the time. What I am saying is that the squeaky wheel gets oiled. By the grace of God, we live in a democratic society. It is a government of the people, for the people and by the people. The only way to get God back to the forefront of our nation is to make some noise. I believe that if Christians would collectively begin to make noise, Satan would be forced to get out of our way.
