Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
James 4:5-8
Ken Johnson of Altadena, California, discovered an unexpected and serious problem around Thanksgiving of 2025. A black bear weighing about 500 pounds decided to take up residence and make himself at home in the crawl space under his house. The bear tore off screens, dislodged bricks, and damaged pipes as it settled in. When initial attempts to drive it away failed, Johnson contacted the BEAR League, a group that specializes in safely removing bears. Their team arrived quickly and succeeded in persuading the bear to move on. Before leaving, however, they placed an “unwelcome” mat outside the home—knowing that bears often try to return to places they’ve claimed. When the bear came back and stepped on the mat, it received a shock, ran off, and has not returned.
The devil is our adversary every day. Victory today does not mean the battle is over tomorrow. Satan looks for opportunities to return—to regain ground he once held. That is why James does not merely tell us to resist the devil, but first to submit ourselves to God. Humility closes the door pride opens. Drawing near to God leaves no room for divided loyalties.
We often want to remove temptation without changing our posture—to clear out the problem but leave the door unlocked. But James makes it clear that resistance requires action: submission to God, cleansing our hands, and purifying our hearts. Half-measures invite renewed attacks. If we are serious about victory, we must be just as serious about placing an unwelcome mat at every entrance—submitting fully to God and standing firm against the enemy.
