Red Eye Removal

“Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11, NASB.

Caleb* was on a survey trip in Southern Sumatra, Indonesia. He was collecting pictures to show what the housing was like and to show how the people lived. When a local man found out learned Caleb’s interests, he told him about a very old and traditional home that was nearby. Caleb was happy to follow this volunteer community guide.

The home, it turned out, was all alone in a clearing of trees. The guide said it was 130 years old and had Arabic writings carved into the wood shanks on the doorway and inside the home. Caleb asked if the guide knew what the carvings meant. The guide did not know, but he said it had a powerful gin (spirit).

Caleb snapped a couple of pictures of the house and then started to focus on the Arabic carvings. As he looked through the view finder of his camera he saw what looked like a blood red human eye staring back at him. Caleb was startled. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end. He decided to try a different angle thinking it was a sun reflection, but every angle he tried he still saw the menacing eye staring back at him. Caleb snapped several pictures of the carved writings anyway, even though all he could see was the eye.

After thanking his guide Caleb went on with his trip. Later, when the film was developed all the pictures he took before the carvings and after the carvings turned out perfectly. But the pictures of the carvings were completely clear, like they had been erased from the film. As a follower of Christ, Caleb knew that the gin was really a demon. Caleb knew from experience that encounters with demons are unavoidable when you are pushing into territory where the devil has reigned uncontested.

*Name changed for security reasons.

Pray that:

Believers at the edge of darkness will understand and exercise their authority over demons with confidence.

Believers will not become overly interested in the enemy, but will focus on the superior power of Christ.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.