ALL SHOOK UP

A few years ago, we were blessed to behold one of God’s more unusual creations on our back deck -- a varmint that carries the official scientific name of “Nutria.” That sounds like a faux sweetener to me. Said Nutria looks like a combination of a beaver and a Jurassic rat, and it belongs in Louisiana marshes, so what it’s doing in the Midwest, I dunno. We're accustomed to seeing foxes, skunks, and raccoons, but this varmint was totally unexpected. It’s good to get shook up occasionally, especially as a retired person. It keeps the blood pumping.

I'm a big fan of dainty wee ladybugs, delicate butterflies, and sweet green inchworms. But the rare sight of a jungle-sized spider weaving its trap on my deck causes shock and awe, and a desire to move to Antarctica, where there are only frozen spiders.

It’s far too easy to take for granted the daily sun-sets, and moon-rises. I’ll never forget the day when my “laissez-faire” attitude towards the created universe was immediately changed. We were driving home on our hilly road, and there was a harvest moon so huge, blazingly orange, and low on the horizon that I swore it had landed ON the street in front of us. My heart almost stopped for the extreme beauty, and yes, even fear of God’s creation!  And now that a very rare solar eclipse is upon us, I prepare to be amazed once again at His handiwork.

This causes me to realize that, in daily Bible readings, it can be easy, through repetition, to fail to appreciate the sovereignty of God, and the eternality and dominion of Christ. It’s important for me to stop occasionally, and meditate on the instances where people in the Bible actually fell on their faces when confronted with the majesty and holiness of God (Genesis 17:3), and of the preincarnate and risen Christ (Ezekiel 1:28, Revelation 1:17). There will come a day when “at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:10).

Lord Jesus, may I never become a spiritual sluggard, taking You and Your sovereign authority for granted.  I praise You when I read Your thundering perspective to Job, "where were you when I ..... [created] ..." (Job 38-41).  How blessed I feel when You get me “shook up,” renewing the proper perspective of humility before You, and to keep my “spiritual blood” pumping.

LIONS, LOLLY-GAGGING, AND LA-DI-DAH

 

My hubby will testify that I’m a real critter lover. He’s afraid to take me the zoo, or festivals, or a neighborhood walk, for fear that I’ll come home with a new fuzzy lovebug, be it cat, dog, goat, iguana ... okay, so the iguana isn’t fuzzy, but I’d gladly buy it a fuzzy sweater. And now I must guard against torpedoing the 10^th Commandment because our friends are going on African safari next month where they can have hands-on experiences with cheetas, elephants, and wildebeasts.

As much as I love to watch nature documentaries, the one thing I don’t handle well is the videos of one breed taking down another for food purposes. I see it in my own home, when I watch our cats stalk and demolish a cricket. I know, it’s nature, the way it’s supposed to be, survival of the fittest. But I’d much rather not witness this much reality. Yes, I am indeed a wimp.

And now you’re asking me, “and your point would be?” Here it is. Read 1 Peter 5:8 -- “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Now take a good look at the photo above, taken by me, on our deck a few winters ago. The birds had found some leftover kitty kibble and were having a heyday, as evidenced by the many wee birdie footprints. And if you look closely, you’ll spy with your little eye ... the single kitty paw print. Like the song that you can’t get out of your head, so this photo and verse should be stuck in your head, only for a better purpose.

The feline’s expertise is a picture of Satan’s. He takes advantage of the weak, the straggler, the unaware, the apathetic, the lolly-gagger. His grubby little footprints are all over Scripture for me to see as an example of his effect on those who weren’t paying attention when he snuck up on them for the physical, emotional and/or spiritual kill.

When believers are at their most vulnerable is when he strikes. Sometimes that vulnerability is from outside sources, like persecution, illness, etc. But vulnerability can also be the result of disobedience, pride, greed. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life is not from the Father, but is from the world” (1 John 2:16)

Gracious Father, I know that, as Your child, I can never be taken from Your hand (John 10:28-29). But it is definitely up to me not to languish and “la-di-dah” through my days, assuming that because I’m Yours, that the diabolical one has lost interest. That would be the dumbest assumption I could make. You have lovingly provided me with Your armor, and Your insistence that I put it on, so that I “will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11-17). Furthermore, You have gifted me with “the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.” Being aware does not mean living in fear, because You are with me always. And besides my little picture of critter footprints, the “big picture” is that Satan is not long for this world, because You, my Jesus, have already conquered Satan. How I look forward to being with You for all eternity, in a divinely Satan-free environment!