In the darkness of night one can see a faint reflection of themselves in the window of our breakfast room. It is vague and without details. But, it is enough to drive our dog crazy. Mirrors do not concern her. They are detailed. But this darkish form of a dog leads her to believe there is an animal outside. Instead of it being a bogyman it is a bogeydog.
She is not unlike many people I know who think a bogeyman lurks in most all organizations that range from churches, civil organizations to state and federal government. Fanciful stories are created and then believed making out that sinister people lurk in the shadows trying to harm us. Rarely is there any real evidence. It is mostly innuendo built upon unfounded rumors. They see conspiracies of evil everywhere. Bogeymen abound just like the monsters under their childhood beds. Any negative tidbit is pounced upon as truth while ignoring any positive news. I am sorry for them because it must be a fearful way to live.
It is true that Paul tells us we wrestle not against flesh and blood. And Peter proclaims the devil prowls like a roaring lion seeking to devour. But a life in Christ is to be a life of restfulness and joy. With God on our side no one can be successful against us. With the arms God supplies to us we can slay any bogeyman that comes our way. The Bible tells us to think on positive things and truthful things. Unfortunately once we have made up our minds about someone we think it’s the truth when what we are seeing is a vague darkish reflection in a window – a bogeydog.
Written by Roger Bothwell on February 5, 2014
Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org