During the late ’60s, I became deeply fascinated with fictional stories, especially those TV shows that had just the right blend of danger and eeriness. One story that truly captured my childhood imagination was called Dark Shadows, featuring a vampire named Barnabas Collins.
I couldn’t wait to see who would provoke Barnabas’ rage enough to receive one of his mystical neck bites. Barnabas slept by day and thrived by night. He was incredibly complex, capable of showing hints of care, love, and especially evil.
As crazy as it may seem, I wanted him to find deliverance from his blood-thirsty attacks on unsuspecting people. I watched eagerly for it in every new episode. But how could a vampire be saved without a stake in the heart? And how could people be protected from his bites without any warning or knowledge of his evil presence? There was no watchman to sound the alarm, no warning signs posted that said, “beware of the vampire terror by night.”
Understand, I’m not encouraging readers to read horror stories. Instead, I’m using this fictional story as an example to highlight another type of evil, the devil, to beware of day and night.
Scripture tells us to “keep a cool head. Stay alert. The devil is poised to pounce and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So, keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ — eternal and glorious plans they are — will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does” — 1 Peter 5:8-11.
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Just to be clear, it won’t be a stake to the heart that stops the devil; we must resist him and stand firm in our faith. We need to resist the urge to worry about the economy, which has pushed many people to the edge of financial instability. Resist conversations soaked in fear and hopelessness. Even though joblessness and the cost of living have significantly increased, cast your cares on God.
Today, more than ever, I am urging you to become a watchman obligated to prayer, committed to protecting others, and attentive to God. You see, being a watchman isn’t exclusive to one person. We all should be watchful. Teachers should watch over their students. Pastors watch over their flocks. Parents watch over their children. Just as the Cherubims guarded against intruders in Genesis 3:24, God called Ezekiel to watch over Israel during captivity in Ezekiel 33.
God told Ezekiel, “son of man, speak to your people. Tell them, if I bring war on this land and the people take one of their citizens and make him their watchman, and if the watchman sees war coming and blows the trumpet, warning the people, then if anyone hears the sound of the trumpet and ignores it and war comes and takes him off, it’s his own fault. He heard the alarm, he ignored it — it’s his own fault. If he had listened, he would have saved his. But if the watchman sees war coming and doesn’t blow the trumpet, warning the people, and war comes and takes anyone off, I’ll hold the watchman responsible for the bloodshed of any unwarned sinner.” — Ezekiel 33:1-6 MSG.
Although I don’t know how long Ezekiel waited before raising the alarm, it has taken me two long years. So, here’s my watchman story. It’s about the sinful path mankind is heading toward. I can only explain it this way: Instead of the Spirit of God hovering over the surface of the waters during Genesis’ creation, I dreamt that evil spirits flew over the world seeking to destroy and kill. Much like Barnabas Collins who roamed after dust, evil spirits ruled the nighttime. No one was safe. They controlled the sky, the land, and the sea.
Every human being caught outside after dark had to take shelter for safety. Each night, fear overtook people’s emotions. The nights were silent, but everyone’s faces told the story. Be quiet or suffer the consequences of death. We were powerless. Only during the day could freedom be found.
It was clear to me that our sinful state led to this decay, and equally clear that freedom could only be found in the Light (Jesus). Thank God that scripture teaches us that it’s not too late to change.
We must call upon the name of Jesus to save us. By doing so, you can shift the trajectory of your lives from death to eternal life. However, it begins by accepting Jesus as our Savior and repenting of your sins. We must put off depravity. Walk away from old lifestyles and put on Christlikeness, good behavior, and faith. Cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light because Jesus is the light of the world.
Some may say I had a crazy nightmare. Yet, I am convinced, dream or not, that God is warning us to change our ways, and He wants to give us another opportunity to have victory in Him. If we do so, “nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels won’t, and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God’s love away.
“Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, or where we are — high above the sky or in the deepest ocean — nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when he died for us.” — Romans 8:38-39 TLB.
Although, I am not Ezekiel, who was called to be a watchman over a nation, if you are reading this, I am called to be watchful for your sake just as you are called to watch over your community.
(This article was previously printed in March 2025.)
Brenette Wilder, formerly of Altheimer, Ark., is a blogger at wordstoinspire105953116.wordpress.com and author of Netted Together.
Editor’s note: Pastors, ministers or other writers interested in writing for this section may submit articles for consideration to shope@adgnewsroom.com. Writers should have connections to Southeast Arkansas. Please include your name, phone number and the name and location of your church or ministry.