This year marks the 50th anniversary of Jaws — yes, that movie. The one that made Steven Spielberg a household name and changed the way we look at the ocean. I remember the first time I saw Jaws as a kid growing up in the South. We didn’t have cable, just what I used to call “peasant TV,” and when it came on one Saturday night, I was glued to the screen.

The older folks in the community used to say, “Don’t go too far out in that water, or something will get you.” That “something” turned out to be Jaws, the terrifying shark that made a whole generation think twice about stepping into the sea.

Now, sure — looking back, the shark looks kind of fake. Mechanical. But as a kid? It was real enough. And the thing that made it feel really real wasn’t the special effects. It was the music. The buildup. The tension. That unforgettable “dun-dun… dun-dun…” soundtrack told you one thing: danger was coming. And when that shark started tearing into that little boat — forget it. Safety was gone.

Even though the story was fiction, the fear was real.

What’s wild is how much this movie still speaks to where we are today. You see, in Jaws, people tried to deny there was a monster. The mayor didn’t want to shut the beaches. Folks ignored the warnings. Sound familiar?

Mayor Larry Vaughn of Amity Island downplayed the shark threat to protect the town’s economy, especially since the Fourth of July tourist season was approaching — a critical time for local businesses.

Here’s what he did to keep people from being concerned:

1. Dismissed the Danger: Despite clear evidence from police chief Martin Brody and shark expert Matt Hooper that a great white shark was responsible for several deaths, Vaughn insisted the first death was a boating accident.
2. Refused to Close the Beaches: Brody wanted to shut down the beaches for public safety, but Vaughn strongly opposed it, fearing it would hurt the town’s tourism revenue.
3. Encouraged Swimming: Vaughn even went so far as to coerce people into going into the water — including himself — to show that it was safe.
4. Hired Amateurs: Instead of taking the scientific threat seriously, the town allowed locals to hunt the shark, leading to the killing of the wrong shark (a tiger shark), which Vaughn quickly claimed was the killer to reassure the public.
5. Ignored Experts: Vaughn consistently ignored warnings from the shark expert Hooper and resisted hiring professional help (like Quint) until it was absolutely unavoidable.

It reminds me of the spiritual reality we face right now.

The Bible tells us about a very real enemy. Satan. He’s not a myth, not a metaphor, and certainly not a cartoon character with horns and a pitchfork. He’s real, and he’s dangerous. In Ephesians 2:2 (ESV), Paul calls him “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.”

Just like in Jaws, people today shrug off the warning signs. They act like the threat isn’t real. But Scripture tells a different story.

Now, we know Satan is a defeated foe — Colossians 2:15 says that Jesus “disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them.” The victory is already won through the cross. But that doesn’t mean the battle is over. He’s still out there, still waging war. Still lurking.

Peter paints this picture clearly: “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8, ESV). He’s not in the ocean — he’s in the atmosphere, the culture, the systems. Wherever people ignore God and drift from truth, he’s nearby.

And just like in Jaws, the danger isn’t just that the enemy exists — it’s that people don’t believe he’s real.

But as Christians, we’re not called to fear. We’re called to suit up. Paul puts it this way in Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV):
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”

The threat is real — but so is the armor. So is the victory. And so is the call to stand firm.

Let’s not be like the townspeople in Jaws, ignoring the signs until it’s too late. Let’s be alert, awake, and armed — because the battle is on, but praise God, so is the triumph.

So suit up. Stay watchful. And keep your eyes on the One who already won.