I live on a farm.  The country reveals all kinds of critters and varmints, some of which seem to serve no useful purpose.  Sometimes I have wondered why Noah ever brought certain animals aboard the ark.  I have never seen any value in a skunk.  They are cute in animated cartoons, but that’s about all.  Skunks are the number one road-kill animal seen and smelled on the highways and farm roads of America.  The question, Why did the chicken cross the road? does have a simple answer.  It was to prove to skunks and opossums that it could be done.  Another varmint that seems useless is the armadillo; however I have noticed some rather exotic purses and boots made from their hides.  Armadillos are devastating to a front or back yard.  They dig for grub worms and they will literally destroy a yard in a few nights (they are nocturnal creatures).  I will shoot them on sight whenever I see one since I know first hand what they will do to a yard. 

One evening about dusk I was treating four of my grandkids to a four-wheeler ride around the place when Joseph, age four, spotted what he thought was a rabbit.  Upon closer inspection, we discovered it was an armadillo rooting around in our young pecan grove.  I drove back to the house and got my trusty 410 shotgun.  I asked our son, Mark, if he wanted his kids to witness the execution of the “destroyer.”  Of course, the kids begged and pleaded to go, and Mark thought it okay as well; so off we went, back to the place where we spotted the armadillo – all of us on the four-wheeler.  The animal had moved around a bit, but I still had a clear shot.  We all got very still, and them, BOOM!  I got him with my first shot.  What I did not expect was what happened after the gunshot.  A tremendous cheer rang out.  All four grandkids let loose with a victory shout that could be heard in the next county.  Later, Mark told me he heard the shouts at the house, quite a distance away.  As we rode back to the house, all the kids were shouting, raising their arms high in the air with the victory cheer.  My wife Janet (Mamma Jan to our grandchildren) and son were standing on the porch witnessing this rousing celebration.  All I could do was laugh and enjoy the moment.  An enemy of the premises had been destroyed - there was “joy in the camp.”  In thinking about this event later, I saw some parallels to the Christian walk from at least two points of view.  First, the enemy of our soul, the destroyer, is ever lurking around seeking to do as much harm as he can (1 Peter 5:8).  He can ruin a life and totally make ineffective a believer’s testimony for the Lord.  It can be done so quickly when we are not on guard against him.  We are engaged in Spiritual warfare, but according to Ephesians 6:11-17 we are well equipped to combat the enemy.  Believers are told to resist the devil and he will flee from us (James. 4:7).  That power to be victorious lies within the believer in the person of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19), and He is more powerful than the evil one (1 John. 4:4).  There is a sense of joy and celebration when we have met the enemy through some trial or difficulty, and then won the victory defeating him through the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  It makes one want to shout praises to the Lord when the victory has been won.  Also, it helps when there are other believers who can shout praises with you in your victory.  My grandkids were certainly giving me the victory high-fives when I bagged that menacing varmint. The Bible teaches us to rejoice with those who rejoice (Romans 12:15).  When Jesus told the parables of the lost sheep, coin, and son, an important ingredient in the story was the invitation to rejoice with the finder (Luke 15).  We all need the encouragement that can come from other believers as we take our stand in the faith.  Let’s celebrate with each other’s victory. A second point struck me as I thought about this event.  It was a thrilling moment when we all came back victorious from our “armadillo expedition.”  What joy!  What exuberance! What sense of accomplishment!  We met the enemy and he was ours!  And, there were those we loved waiting for us on the porch when we got home.  I think of the Apostle Paul, knowing his end was near, declaring, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).  He was approaching home in victory.  In concluding his remarks on the resurrection, Paul said, “But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).  He also says,  “Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:14).  We were a one-vehicle procession that afternoon.  Children were shouting to their parents and grandparents as they were coming home.  It must be something like that when a child of God goes home to be with the Lord after a victorious and abundant life on earth.  The Father brings them safely home only to be met with those family members who have gone on before – waiting and watching for their arrival.  Oh, what reunion!  And it’s all because of Jesus.  So, let’s rejoice with each other’s victories and look forward to spreading the news as we’re homeward bound.  And I certainly want all of those in my family, those whom I love so dearly, safely and securely on the four-wheeler when I arrive home.  Our circle will not be broken if I can help it!