Tag: assassination

Are You Ready for the Devil’s Next Move?

Brent Pollard

Former President Donald Trump was the target of multiple assassination attempts in 2024. Politicians, pundits, and the public have discussed significant concerns about the Secret Service’s adherence to established protocols for protecting Trump after the incidents in July and September. In one case, the would-be assassin gained a tactical edge, and in another, a person armed with a rifle got dangerously close before being stopped. These apparent failures demonstrate that constant readiness and vigilance in risk mitigation are essential.

As concerning as these events may be, our spiritual environment is equally daunting. The Bible warns us about the ever-present spiritual dangers we face. Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (NASB95) Just as the Secret Service must remain on constant alert to protect a leader’s life, Christians must also be spiritually vigilant, always prepared for the enemy’s attacks. The devil always seeks moments of weakness when we lower our guard. Ephesians 6.11 instructs us to “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” (NASB95)

This call to vigilance extends to how we live each day. The devil does not announce his attacks; instead, he works subtly, sowing seeds of doubt, fear, and temptation. Jesus emphasized the importance of staying spiritually awake in Matthew 26.41, “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (NASB95) We must be as meticulous in our spiritual preparedness as the Secret Service is in its protocol for protecting leaders, ensuring that we are consistently grounded in prayer, Scripture, and fellowship.

Failure to remain vigilant in our spiritual lives can allow these subtle attacks to go unnoticed, much like a lapse in physical security could lead to danger. The Apostle Paul warned in 2 Corinthians 2.11 that we must be aware of the devil’s schemes to prevent him from gaining an advantage. Paul’s reminder here underscores the critical nature of spiritual readiness, not only for our own sake but also for the sake of those we love. It is essential to be prepared in both personal faith and guarding the souls of those around us.

Proverbs 4.23 reminds us to “Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life” (NASB95). This vigilance applies to our actions and the thoughts and emotions we allow to take root. Like the Secret Service constantly monitors potential threats, we must deliberately guard our hearts, understanding that neglecting our spiritual defenses can lead to trouble.

In essence, physical or spiritual vigilance demands discipline and awareness. Just as the Secret Service protects leaders, we guard our hearts, remain alert, and be ready for daily spiritual challenges.

Use The Resources Available To You

Neal Pollard

Judging from Candice Millard’s straightforward account of the assassination of James Garfield, there were two men responsible for his death. The more obvious villain was the shooter, Charles Guiteau, an unquestionably insane loner. The less obvious accomplice, judging from her words, was the man who seized control of Garfield’s care and appointed himself the president’s chief physician. The bullet that wounded the president would not have been fatal, but the medical attention he received afterward was. In fairness, a medical discovery already made in 1881 that could have helped Garfield was considered controversial and would not be generally embraced in America for a few more decades. Yet, Dr. Joseph Lister’s use of carbolic acid to sterilize surgical instruments and clean wounds had been in existence since the 1860s. The Englishman attended the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876, attempting to convince American doctors of its effectiveness. Alexander Graham Bell, whose telephone was discovered at that same exhibition, heard the news that Bliss could not find the bullet inside the president. The incredible inventor came up with the “induction balance”—a metal detecting machine. But Bliss waited too long to call Bell, and when he did he never allowed the inventor to check his left as well as his right side for the bullet. Bliss was sure it was on the right; an autopsy found it on the left. In court, Guiteau made the argument that the president died from malpractice rather than his attempt. While almost certainly true, Guiteau was still hung. Yet, most historians name Bliss as a proud, ignorant accomplice. Portrayed as a glory seeker, Bliss relied on his prowess and rejected several people and principles that could have prevented Garfield’s death (Millard, Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, And The Murder of a President, Anchor: New York, 2011).

To be fair, it would have taken uncommon clarity and vision for Bliss to ignore the prevailing views of his colleagues and embrace Lister’s techniques and Bell’s invention, but he could have.

There will be people we encounter today, who appear to be in great health and no danger. Yet, the vast majority of them will face a fate infinitely more terrible than the one Garfield succumbed to. They will eventually die, unprepared for the eternity that will follow (Mat. 7:13-14). The most tragic part of this will be, if you and I are in their lives, that it will not have had to be this way. At least, we have the solution from the “Great Physician” and we should know how to administer it. God needs us to make use of the resources He’s made available to us—prayer, Bible knowledge, influence, personality, courage, love, and a sense of urgency (cf. Col. 4:2-6; 1 Pet. 3:15; Eph. 4:15; 2 Tim. 2:24-26; John 4:35; etc.). We can look within our congregations and see those who were reached in this way. We see others who are not far from the cure, but who need us to help them. How inexcusable is it to have the remedy but refuse to share it? May God help us use the resources we have available to us!

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