There’s A Camel In The Tent

1 Peter 5:8-9  “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith…”

My Guatemalan friend, Lazaro, told me a story that he often uses as he preaches.  As the story goes, years ago a traveler was passing through, and with him was his camel carrying the man’s belongings.  As night fell, the traveler unpacked his tent and prepared to sleep.  As the man slept he felt a nudging at the door of his tent.  Much to his surprise his camel was sleeping with his head inside the tent.  The traveler insisted that the camel get his head out of his tent.  The camel spoke up and said… “Just let me rest my head inside the tent and I won’t bother you...”  So the traveler let the camel sleep with his head inside the tent.

Later in the night the traveler was awakened to find the camel had moved at least half his body inside the tent.  The man spoke harshly to the camel insisting he get out.  The camel spoke again, “Just let me rest as I am and I promise I won’t bother you.”  So the traveler allowed the camel to sleep with at least half his body inside the tent.

In the early morning hours the traveler was awakened again.  This time he was shocked to see the camel had moved entirely in to the tent.  There was barely enough room for both the traveler and his camel.  The traveler begin to push and shove and insist the camel move out.  The camel looked at the man and simply said, “If you don’t like me sleeping in your tent then you’ll need to get out.”

Isn’t that just like the Devil… Too many of us have allowed the Devil to sleep with his head inside our tent.  And for many of us he has moved in and rooted us out of the way.  Peter warned, “Be awake…be alert..!”  “Resist him…!”  He has one goal – to devour and destroy everything good. 

I heard a preacher say yesterday, “If sin worked I’d encourage you to sin…but sin never works.”  I agree and add that sin always leads down a dead end road.  Sin always goes downhill.  And the Devil never takes a day off. 

If you let the Devil sleep with his head in your tent -  it won’t be long before he moves in.    M