by: Keith Phemister
Have you ever heard of a Beachhead strategy? Apparently our enemy has and uses it quite often to great success. The word “beachhead” by definition, means a secure initial position that can be used for further advancement; a foothold. It is a military term; a temporary line created when a military unit reaches a beach by sea and begins to defend the area while other reinforcements help out until a unit large enough to begin advancing has arrived.
In 1944, during the D-Day invasion of Normandy, Dwight Eisenhower led the allies to establish a beachhead. Once the amphibious assault started, the victory would go to the side which could re-enforce the beachhead most quickly.
In reading 1 Peter 5, it becomes apparent that often times we read verse 8 and separate from the content of the text before it. It behooves us to realize that our enemy (Satan) looks for a beachhead in our lives so that he can absolutely devour us. Look at these verses.
1 Peter 5:6-8, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”
It is very important that we learn to cast our cares upon the Lord, or in consequence have the enemy establish a beachhead in our lives. We are so prone to try and carry our burdens ourselves instead of casting them upon the One Who really cares for us and can relieve the burdens.
Can I illustrate? When I was a young boy, I would get leg cramps during the night. Mom always told me they were growing pains. How often do I recall calling out to mom in the middle of the night for relief! All it took was a moan and a cry for mom to come and she would be there in an instant. She would also come with the relief that I was looking for, applying an ointment (Ben Gay) while massaging my aching calves. What a relief she was able to give me and all because I called.
Looking at Matthew 13:22, we see how our cares potentially leave us defenseless against our enemy. Notice what it says, “He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hearth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.”
Notice that the cares of the world choke the Word and leave us defenseless against our enemy. The one weapon we have against him is the Word of God, and cares will choke the Word. I cannot imagine being matched against a hungry lion with no weapons.
Let me illustrate the truth. Suppose I asked you to do ten pushups. No problem, at least for most of us. How about falling to the ground and rolling over? Again, no problem. Now how about jumping up and down reaching for the skies. Simple, right?
Now let’s complicate things by giving you a cup of water filled to the brim! Now, I say to you: “Do ten pushups, but don’t spill that water – not a drop”. The instructions now become problematic and complicated. “Fall to the ground and roll over,” I say. Again, the concern is the cup of water in my hand. How do I do what you tell me to do without spilling the cup of water? The cup of water represents the cares that each one of us carries each and every day. The instructions given represent the Word of God. Doing what God tells us to do is a lot easier when the cares are absent from our lives. The problem is that “man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.” Troubles result in cares! “Ok, jump up and down ten times and reach for the sky.” I certainly can do that a lot easier with no cup in my hand filled with water.
Now the solution is obvious: Put the cup of water down while I am carrying out the instructions. So simple! Hey, most good Christians have a problem in their lives obeying the commands of their Saviour because they have not learned to “cast their care upon Him.” What’s more is that He wants us to cast them upon Him. He wants us to cast them upon Him for two simple reasons:
- He cares for us and wants to help us.
- He want us to be free from worries, anxieties and troubles so we can serve more efficiently and bring forth fruit.
Sadly, the result of not casting our cares upon our Lord is our enemy establishing a beachhead in our lives, and we become prime targets for the roaring lion, disarmed and ready to be devoured.
I think of Job and what he had in his life. He had everything one could want. A big, beautiful family, a home and all the modern day conveniences. Then there came a day when the sons of God came to present themselves to the Lord, Satan being among them. God pretty much boasted of his servant Job saying, “Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?”
Satan had been going to and from upon the Earth looking for those whom he could devour. Satan quickly answered back, saying, “Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.”
Many of the cares of this life were absent. God had put a hedge about him. Blessings were everywhere to behold. However, with the removal of those blessings, Satan would be able to devour that great servant Job if he did not “cast his cares upon Him.” Satan understands the cares of this life and uses them to his advantage. Let’s not be ignorant of his devices.
Let’s not allow the enemy to establish a beachhead in our lives. Let’s cast those cares upon Him, freeing us from the burdens and allowing us to be the servants we were meant to be!
Keith Phemister
Pastor
Faith Baptist Church
Nashua, NH