Friday, September 11, 2009 marked the unpleasant anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. On that day, radical Islamists flew two commercial jetliners--with passengers aboard--into the north and south towers, killing about 2,600 innocent people. At the same time, but in other places, others commandeered other commercial airliners and flew one into the Pentagon. Some brave citizens aboard a second plane (Flight 93) prevented it from doing who-knows-what; but, tragically, it nosedived into a Pennsylvania field, killing all who were aboard. Most people in this country would admit that we were unprepared for the attacks, mainly because no one expected them. We still cannot imagine why anyone would fly a plane full of innocent people into a building with the intent of killing as many as possible, but it did happen, and it could happen again, if the wrong people find another opportunity to do the same thing.

Since that infamous day, many have openly asked, "Could it happen again?" I admit that it's possible I may have missed such a statement, but I have not heard anyone say, "No. That will never happen again." Many have boldly said we should not allow it to happen again, but none are so foolish as to say it cannot happen. That same innocence [or naiveté] allowed it to happen the first time, but as the old adage goes, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." No one is now willing to even think it could not happen again; and we've expended time, energy, and resources in an effort to ensure that it does not.

While this real-world example of an enemy attack we did not foresee is presently in the minds of many people, let us stop to consider the reality that we, as God's people, daily face the same possibility of attack. It would be just as foolish [if not more so] to believe our enemy will not attack us again. God's word plainly tells us that our spiritual enemy is planning his next attack, warning us, "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (1Peter 5:8) Since we have been duly warned, we have no excuse for being unprepared, do we? But though the warning has been given, it pains me to see that many brethren, and many churches, are not heeding it and stand unprepared for Satan's next attack or in disbelief that he would ever attack them.

The individuals responsible for the 9/11 attacks did not all just coincidentally awaken on that day and haphazardly decide to attack us; months of planning went into preparation for the attacks. They plotted, observed, drew up proposals, tested airport security, and then finalized a plan by which they could execute the simultaneous attacks. Each individual had an assigned task, and each one depended on the others to accomplish the overall task. While we still try to comprehend the perverted minds that would scheme to kill innocent men, women, and children, the fact is, they did it and their insidious plan worked, for the most part, as they had intended.

As an individual disciple, I must take the warning about my spiritual enemy seriously because I'm the one whom the enemy may have already targeted. Just like the lion that creeps stealthily around the edges of the herd out on the savanna, our enemy begins by standing far off and simply observing the herd [all people]. He is looking for the weak, the small and immature, and those who may be separated from the rest of the herd; then he scans the horizon to see what factors will affect the chase.

While I stand around innocently believing no one would target me or be involved in some devious scheme to destroy me, the enemy and his cohorts are busy planning my downfall. My spiritual enemy might even send some of his minions to befriend me and get me to believe he is my friend and that he is just as interested in righteousness as I am. The sad reality is that they are merely disguising themselves as "servants of righteousness" (2 Corinthians 11:15) so they will be able to infiltrate, undermine, and eventually destroy my spiritual condition. By the time I recognize their true intentions and my true end, it may be too late, so I must learn how my spiritual enemy operates and be constantly on guard.

Churches [groups of individual disciples] must also guard against the enemy's approach. Because the Bible often refers to God's people as a "flock" (cf. Acts 20:28), let's consider the church in that way for a minute, especially since Jesus warned, "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves" (Matthew 7:15). Throughout its pages, the New Testament warns us about "false brothers secretly brought in" (Galatians 2:4), "human cunning" and "deceitful schemes" (Ephesians 4:14), "impostors" (2 Timothy 3:13), "false teachers ... who will secretly bring in destructive heresies" (2 Peter 2:1), and "people [who] have crept in unnoticed who long ago ... who pervert the grace of our God" (Jude 1:4). These Scriptures warn of attacks on churches, rather than individuals, and we must be willing to admit that such attacks are possible and to prepare as a flock. With all of these warnings, can we honestly take no action to prepare for the possibility that such things may come to our flock?

Let us first note that the flock's protection lies primarily with its shepherds. It would be a dereliction of duty for a shepherd, after the flock has been attacked, to lay the blame on the dumb sheep for allowing themselves to be endangered. Yes, sheep are not the brightest animals in the world, but that is why we have shepherds. Note well that Paul warned "the elders" (Acts 20:17) to "Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock" because "fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock" (vv. 28, 29). Paul did not take the time to warn the individual sheep in the flocks; he warned the shepherds. Let us clearly understand that God gave the responsibility for the flock's protection to the elders.

The writer to the early Jewish Christians exhorted them, "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account" (Hebrews 13:17). The analogy of a flock of sheep is used to illustrate God's people, but we are talking about something much more serious than mere sheep; we are talking about souls. This responsibility must not be taken lightly. No shepherd worth his salt can escape the charge he's been given to do everything necessary to prepare the flock for the inevitable dangers that will come to it. Shepherds will have to give account!

One day, the shepherds will have to account for whether or not they fulfilled their responsibilities to feed and water the flock; were they constantly thinking ahead so that none went hungry or thirsty? They must also answer for whether or not they protected the sheep from the world around them. Were the shepherds constantly aware of the surrounding conditions so the flock knew when to seek protection from storms and not be caught unaware? And since they are warned about wolves, did the shepherds recognize them for what they were, and did they ensure protection for every member of the flock?

As sheep, we must also prepare for inevitable attack from the enemy. Since we know he is coming, we do ourselves no good by standing idly by and awaiting his arrival. Prepare for the day, prepare for the attack, and prepare to defeat the enemy. God's word tells us resistance will cause him to flee (James 4:7), so it is up to us--individually and as a flock-- to prepare for the inevitable.