LightGrams
September 26, 2019
Volume 23, Number 31
Credit the unnamed woman with having compassion. While driving down the road she saw an injured bobcat. She stopped, picked up the wounded animal, and placed it inside her SUV. In that same SUV was her child, lovingly strapped into a child seat.
Officials from the Colorado Parks and Wildlife agency were called to take the bobcat for care. They were shocked when they learned how she had put the wild animal in the car, and issued this warning to others: “NEVER PICK UP WILD ANIMALS. She was lucky,” the agency tweeted. “This could have been tragic.”
As it turns out, the bobcat was mortally injured and too exhausted to fight back when picked up. That fact was what spared both mother and child from serious injuries – or worse.
Proverbs 5 opens with words from a loving father: “My son, pay attention to my wisdom; lend your ear to my understanding” (Proverbs 5:1). The opening chapters of this book bear the same marks: a father trying to warn his son about dangers the young man does not yet realize. The son is innocent, but he lives in a world of wild danger.
The father gives specific instruction in verses 3-5: “For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death, her steps lay hold of hell.” What needed counsel this is for young men (as well as young women)!
Paul gave similar warnings to Timothy: “Flee also youthful lusts …” (2 Timothy 2:22). There are few like Joseph, who had faith strong enough to resist the advances of an immoral (wild) woman. Because he knew God’s will, he was able to say, “… How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9).
Children are born innocent, unaware of the dangers Satan continually places in our paths. How will they know that a bobcat is not to be played with? “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). Without such warnings and guidance, children naively stray into the path of danger.
Isaiah 11:6 describes what might normally be a frightening scene: “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.”
The child in that scene is not in danger; the wild animals mentioned are not wild. All is under the control of God. But we’re not there yet. Children still need godly instruction.
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
~~~~~
Copyright, 2019, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “[email protected]” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
Permission to reproduce and/or use the messages for noncommercial purposes is freely granted provided the messages are not altered.