But in musing upon this, there is often something we overlook. From day one, predators abound. There are plants that do not want to be eaten, which produce defensive chemicals. There are pesticides sprayed by humans. There are other creatures that crave the caterpillar, the pupa, or the butterfly as food. And there might even be a lack of enough food at times. It would seem as though the world were out to keep the glorious butterfly from ever appearing or living to make more.

But in God’s design of the moths and butterflies, we see an expectation of these dangers. From caterpillar to butterfly, each species has its own ways of defending against, or avoiding predators. Each has its own way of finding food. It would seem that the creatures are fully expecting constant danger. Not only expecting, but accepting the inevitability of it.

One of the hardest things for me to do on this Christian walk is to expect and accept the danger. And I suspect I am not the only one. I dislike being misunderstood by fellow Christians who do not share my particular convictions. I feel angry and uncomfortable when non-Christians denigrate my principles and my faith. I used to weep in terror at the thought of persecution. I want God to rescue me quickly from hardships.

“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:8-9 KJV);” “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:9 KJV).” Let us strive to be as the butterfly, and as the moth, expecting and excepting trouble with courage.

Read more

all of these factors make it interesting, because her hutch is outside in a large pen. After I supervise her play time running around in the pen, it is time for her to go back into her hutch for safety. Or, in the summer she has to go into a carrier so I can bring her in out of the heat. But rabbits do not naturally like to be confined.

And that is where the bribery comes in. One thing my stubborn little Maha usually has a hard time resisting is carrots. She will often run right into the hutch or carrier at smell or sight of them.

Sometimes she musters up incredible will power and resist. And then I am in for a long hot wait until she gives up. Or until i give up and try bribing her with something else or figuring out another way to get her in. I cannot just give up, because while the pen is quite secure, if one of the neighborhood cats wanted to badly enough, it could tear through the security netting that is over the top of it netting and get at her. If the heat is a factor, then our climate reaches temperatures that could give my fragile girl heat stroke. So she has to take one of the bribes for her own protection.

But we as humans should not follow her example. The Devel is the master of temptation and bribery. He has been honing his craft for thousands of years, and often knows what will call to us. He knows the things we often cannot resist.

but his aim is not our safety and security. His aim is our destruction. To break the heart of God, his aim is our falling away.

So what do we do? We make a practice of drawing close to God. We choose to find delight in the things of God. And the Word tells us that God, our ultimate place of safety, will meet us at the end of our feeble human efforts.

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when Lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death (James 1:13-15 KJV).”

“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 (James 4:7-8A KJV).” Let us draw near to our God, the place of safety, and let us remember not to follow the rabbit.

Read more

Finally, reaching graduation was the prize I had been waiting for. After all the struggle and the doubt; after all the triumph and joy, I had made it, and was going home with Ajax. I remember testifying at church about the experience, and finishing with, “But we made it, didn’t we, Buddy.” And it wasn’t the end. It was just the beginning of all that was yet to come after. It was not that the excitement and trial had lost its meaning. It was simply that here was the prize. This was what it had all been for.

In Galatians, Paul describes “forgetting what is behind, and looking forward to the prize.” It isn’t phrased as a command, but I believe it is one. God desires us to hope, to anticipate, to look forward to the prize of heaven, and even more, of Himself. And we know from multiple places in the Word that whether we get to Heaven through the gateway of death, or by being taken up at His second coming, leaving this world will not be an ending. On the contrary, it will simply be a transition, and the beginning of forever.

All that we have and will go through here will not be meaningless, but we will have reached the prize that all of this has been pointing to all along. “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing i do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14 KJV).” “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worth for us a far more determined and exceeding weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17 KJV).”

Read more

That was the lesson of training, but as we continued to live and walk together, and as our bond grew, it was no longer just about navigation. He was always watching, even when he was not on duty. People would make comments about that, saying, ‘He’s always watching you.”

Eventually, if I so much as coughed, he would become upset. If I was sad, he was ready to comfort, making me laugh or simply checking to see if I was alright. And I learned to watch too, though with my hands and ears, instead of my eyes. I learned to understand when he was happy, when he was upset, when he was sick, bored, or simply ready to tease me.

We are to strive to be in close enough communication with our King that we can hear what He is directing us to do, and see where He is pointing. We must watch and listen, seeking His direction. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27 KJV).” “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left (Isaiah 30:21 KJV).” “Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto her mistress, so our eyes wait upon the lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us (Psalm 123:2 KJV).” I must be honest and say that I follow this very imperfectly. Just the same, I did not always understand Ajax’s messages.

But it goes even deeper than that. Not only are we to be watching the King, but we are to know that He is lovingly watching us. Not as a judge that is ready to pass sentence on every mistake, but as a Father and a friend, looking out for our well-being at all times. “Thou compasses my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways (Psalm 139:3 KJV).” “The lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even forever more (Psalm 121:8 KJV).”

This bond was a process. Ajax did not become so in tune with me over night. And neither did I instantly understand his moods. the same way, there is a process to our relationship with Christ. It is a life-long journey of discovery. The only difference is, His watch-care over us is instant. “Show me thy ways, O lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day (Psalm 25:4-5 KJV).”

I had to learn about Ajax over time. I made a lot of mistakes in those early days, and beyond. But he never stopped communicating, guiding, or loving me.

Know that you will make mistakes. You will fail to hear, or fail to understand. But He will not cease to watch you, guide you, and love you.

Read more