We can learn a great deal about how the devil attacks and destroys the faith of a believer from observing the tactics displayed in natural warfare. Just as it was in Israel two days ago, when the rocket attack signaled the beginning of a much larger planned attack, unseen forces had been hidden and embedded in their midst ready to release barbaric levels of terror and death once the missiles were launched.

Paul described what the maturity of a follower of Jesus looks like. He did not base that maturity on how long we have been believers or what systematic theology we follow. He defined our maturity as our ability to discern good from evil and error from truth. 

Paul said that when that maturity is in place, “Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever, they sound like the truth” (Ephesians 4:13). A believer cannot co-exist with evil and think somehow the embedded evil will become tame and never bite us. 

As the war in Israel escalates and the search begins for how such a breach of their advanced security took place, we can apply those discoveries to our faith and ask the question, “What have I let into my life that is a hidden demonic presence that I failed to recognize?”  

These are the kinds of questions too easily ignored when we assumed living within the borders of a porous and naïve faith was a safe option. While the attacks coming from outside the borders of Israel were horrible, it was the terror created from within by embedded terrorists who are continuing to murder innocent people that created a greater concern. Those attacks from within are having the greatest impact on the psyche of the nation. 

Allowing God to search the content of our hearts will reveal what has entered our lives intent on destroying our faith. What we find may be upsetting to see revealing the level of our vulnerability created by the lies embedded in our lives waiting for hell’s signal to launch a surprise attack when we least expect it. These attacks are planned to take place at a precise moment when either our guard was let down or we over-confidently assumed we were immune from such attacks. 

“Search me, O God, and know my heart!” (Psalms 139:23).