When my husband and I were on the French-Caribbean island of Martinique, we would often catch a bus from the quaint seaside village of Saint Anne, to Génipa, an upscale mall where we would enjoy lunch together, sip café with crème, and stock up on groceries. While waiting for the bus, we noticed a danger zone on the right side of the bus stop, a towering palm tree with a cluster of coconuts.
On two separate occasions, we watched massive coconuts fall to the ground from at least 50 feet above, and smash, smack dab, onto the concrete sidewalk below. If we had been standing underneath the dangling coconuts, one could have fallen on us. I shudder to think what kind of damage a coconut boulder would cause to a human head. It could knock one to the ground, cause a head injury, a concussion, and possibly death.
Watching these falling coconuts made me aware of the physical danger lurking above us, so we stayed clear of this palm tree. But then I got to thinking about the importance of protecting ourselves spiritually. I was reminded of our need to watch out for our enemy, the adversary, the devil, whose goal is “only to steal, and to kill and to destroy (John 10:10).
Coconuts are a wonderful gift from God. They are often called the “tree of life” because almost every part of it is useful. The coconut meat can be used fresh, grated, or dried to make flakes, flour, and oil, or used to make coconut milk and cream. The water inside is refreshing, electrolyte-rich, and packed with potassium. The tough outer husks can be turned into a natural fiber used for gardening, ropes, brushes, mats, and furniture. Even the hard inner shell can be burned into charcoal which is great for grilling and water filtration, or it be carved into bowls, utensils, jewelry, and more. From nutrition and hydration, to sustainable materials and goods, the coconut is truly one of God’s most generous gifts–almost nothing goes to waste.
An important lesson gleaned from all of this is that the enemy often takes God’s precious gifts, such as a ripened coconut, and makes it a hazard. Thus, we are told in Scripture to “be sober-minded; be watchful” because our “adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). We need to be on the alert for the dangers of the enemy, understanding that being mindful is the first step in preventing unnecessary suffering. Just as I was mindful of the potential for a coconut to fall on my head, we need to be mindful of the strategies and hazards of the enemy.
What falls from the coconut tree is a gracious gift from God, if we receive and use it rightly, but it is a trap and a danger if we do not. Falling coconuts ultimately remind us of life’s blend of promise from God and peril from the enemy. Our source of sustenance can also be a potential snare. Therefore:
“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” — Ephesians 6:11-13