|
A little under two years ago, our family was blessed by the entrance of a beautiful 35Kg/70lb dog named Kia. Kia is an Akita, a protector by breed, and she takes her job seriously. She especially sees her role as a protector against small animals…
Last year Kia had a big problem; but the source of her problem was actually quite small: a 5Kg/10Lb cat named Roxy. Roxy didn't permanently live at our house. It so happened that she was temporarily living here when Kia joined the family; and it so happened that she was also a temporary guest at the time this was written. Even though it wasn’t Roxy’s home, she was definitely the master, the “top dog" (even though she's a cat), and poor Kia had to "bow and scrape" in her presence.
The only problem is, dogs don't "bow and scrape" very well…
Because it is in Kia's nature to chase little animals, the first thing that she was taught when she came to reside with us was that under no circumstances whatsoever was she allowed to chase the cat.
Kia learned her part of the deal rather quickly, as she is a true "people pleaser", and I think, also quite grateful that we rescued her from the dog pound. The problem is, it took Roxy several weeks, even months, to realize that Kia was not allowed to chase her, and by the time she learned this, it was time for her to go back to her real home.
When her family moved out of country, Roxy again came for a temporary stay. She did eventually go to live with her family in their new home, but while she waited, she had to once again deal with her nemesis. By this time, not only had Roxy forgotten the dog, but Kia had also forgotten that she wasn't supposed to chase cats, and the lessons began anew. I will say, to both of their credits, that the lessons were relearned a lot faster than they were initially learned, and peace soon prevailed once again under our roof.
So just how, then, is this 5Kg cat such a big problem to the 35Kg dog?
Roxy learned something: She came to realize that if Kia were to take even the slightest move towards chasing her, she would receive a correction. Kia doesn't enjoy correction. She always spends the next couple of hours cowering in a corner somewhere, hoping that her human "mommy" will forgive her…
Once Roxy discovered this, her favorite pastime became to wait until my wife and Kia were in the same room. Then she would prance around the dog with her tail flicking in the air. Once she knew she had Kia's full attention, she would bolt away. She knew full well that Kia would not be able to resist chasing her, and that my wife would call her off and give her a correction. Roxy would then return a little later to whatever corner Kia would be cowering in from her correction, prancing about with her nose and tail in the air, as if to say, "haha! I got you again!" Poor Kia eventually began to exit the room whenever the cat appeared...
I must admit that sometimes I feel a lot like Kia. No matter where I am or what I'm doing, my arch-enemy, the devil, will prance around until he has my full attention, then he will do something that will make me fall every time into temptation: "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8b NIV).
So what is the remedy?
We need to look no farther than Kia and Roxy. My wife can usually tell when Roxy is trying to get Kia in trouble, and if Kia even so much as makes eye contact with the bratty cat, she will receive a gentle reminder that chasing the cat is out of the question. As long as my wife can keep Kia's attention away from the cat, the cat can prance around all she wants, to no avail.
In the same way, our safeguard against the "roaring lion" devil is: "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith." (Hebrews 12:2a NIV). We must keep our eyes upon Jesus!
That's easier said than done, however, as Kia could attest. Let's remember that the times Kia is able to resist chasing the tantalizing cat are the times my wife is gently reminding her to take her eyes off the cat... In the same way, Jesus also calls out to us through His Spirit in times of temptation. His voice is what we have learned to call our "conscience". If we ignore it too long, we will cease hearing it; but if we pay attention to Jesus' voice, through the Holy Spirit, our eyes will stay on Jesus! Remember: "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV)!
Our job is simple: Just like Kia needs to pay attention to my wife's voice, we must heed God's Spirit speaking into our consciences. When we do, our eyes shift to Him and away from the devil.
I'm pretty sure Kia was happy when Roxy went to live with her family; and I know I'll be happy when I no longer have the prowling devil to contend with. In the interim, however, let's focus on Jesus! For when we do, we will not be drawn away into evil!
Inspired by Rob Chaffart
Founder, Answers2Prayer Ministries
|
