“A Stray Bullet” by Reva Lachica Moore
(Written in 2014)
Tonight I couldn’t sleep. I feel that the stillness of the night could suddenly erupt into a violent chaos. I couldn’t help but think about our current world situation: the growing unrest and tensions in many places, the super typhoons, erupting volcanoes, wildfires – just to name a few. People are in constant fear. Is there a place on this earth that is safe and free from troubles?
I live in the best place on earth with freedom that our forefathers fought for. However, our freedoms have started to disappear. Values are vanishing. The economical, religious and social fabric of our country have changed. I feel afraid for the future generations.
I may not live where my health and safety are threatened always, yet, considering some factors, I feel that I do. There is always that evil force out there, it seems, ready to create havoc in ways that may slightly compare with what people in other places experience in everyday life.
We live in a cul-de-sac and each time I drive from my house to the main street, I have to stop at a stop sign. And it never fails. Right before me on the right or on the left, there is always a passing car, that if for once I would fail to stop, I could get hit. This baffles me because I could wait for another 10 minutes at that stop sign and would not see any cars pass by. Why does this happen each time I reach the stop sign? As if evil forces are always at play to hurt and destroy people. I may not have to worry about mortars blasting away around me, but there is always the threat of car accidents, and other mishaps lurking around.
1 Peter 5:8 says…“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.” The devil is described as a lion, fierce and predatory, always on the lookout for someone to attack and bring down. How do we resist his attacks? By continually being watchful and aware of his tricks.
Satan attacks us when we are happy. Have you noticed that you could be the happiest person on this earth one day and be in the pits of despair the following day?
Satan attacks when our defenses are down. It is normal to become discouraged when things around us are caving in. The enemy can slowly creep in and topple you down during your weakest state. This could be spiritual or physical state.
Satan is the adversary. He will do anything and everything to destroy us. He has numerous ways to attack, including his “fiery darts” mentioned in Ephesians 6:16…“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”
Please READ all the way to the end about what happened to us.
Here are examples of a stray bullet:
A young pregnant mother was struck by a stray bullet that came from a shooting a block away. She was sitting in front of her neighbor’s house when she was struck.
A toddler was killed by a stray bullet while she was in her parent’s apartment.
A woman, 61, was fatally shot as she slept. Two men were shooting at each other outside her apartment complex when a stray bullet came through her window.
A seven-year-old boy was hit and killed by a stray bullet as he walked to a fireworks display with his father. Police believe the shooting was an accident, and said it was possible someone near a restaurant fired a gun in the air to celebrate Independence Day.
But God will protect those who call on Him.
Last Sabbath afternoon, on our way home from church, our car was suddenly jolted by something that hit the car roof. The noise was no ordinary crashing sound caused by a big rock. It was a loud and powerful blast! We were horrified. “That sounded more like a bullet than a rock!” I exclaimed. There was only one car in front of us but it was far away. I did not think it was a rock that hit our car.
I did not think anything of it actually, but upon reaching home, my husband checked the car’s roof. There, a foot from the edge of the roof, was a lodged bullet. We concluded that someone could have shot in the air and the bullet came down, and despite the vastness around us, it hit our car! Imagine if it came crashing down just half a second before, it could have hit our windshield. Or, imagine if we could have been walking and the bullet hit one of us! Thank God it was not a stray bullet through the windshield or car window and that we were inside our car. And the bullet was lodged above Kaitlyn’s baby car seat.
John 10:10…“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”