Swimming in December

"Danger Lurking"

Going swimming in December is not something I would consider, living in Tennessee. But even if I lived in a warmer climate - say, in Southern California - I'm not sure I'd want to take the plunge after reading about an incident that happened last week.

June Emerson took her 12-year-old son and his friend to Manhattan Beach, outside of Los Angeles, on December 27. As most of us do, she took some photos while there. Later she viewed her shots, and was left breathless by one. In the foreground, a few yards into the water, were the boys; just beyond was an object underwater which looks startlingly like a great white shark!

Thousands have viewed the photo online, and most believe it to indeed be a shark, though it could possibly be some other large fish. One fellow who has used his paddleboard to take video of sharks in that area summed up the situation well: "There are two different things in your head," said Jay Dohner; "'Wow, that's beautiful,' and 'We should get out of here.'"

"Get out of here" is right. Even if you're not certain the fish is a great white shark, why take a chance? If that's what it actually is, your life is in danger. Get out of the water!

In Genesis 39 we read of Joseph, who was serving as a slave to an Egyptian named Potiphar. One day he entered his master's house to do his work, not suspecting danger of any kind. Potiphar's wife confronted the handsome young man (Genesis 39:6) and urged him to join her in an immoral rendezvous.

Had Joseph not known God's will, he might have given in. But he saw the danger: "How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" (Genesis 39:9). At that point Joseph fled the house, even leaving behind the garment Potiphar's wife was gripping. (Proverbs 5 has more to say on the dangers of immorality.) He got out!

Satan is described in clear terms by the apostle: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). Lions have a habit of stalking their prey stealthily. Death comes swiftly to those who are not alert and watchful.

Should such talk be taken seriously? Here's what another apostle wrote: "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12). Absolutely, we should take these warnings seriously! There is danger lurking. But with God's help we'll know when to get out.
Timothy D. Hall