In our condo community many people have dogs. We see them out walking their dogs in all weather. Nowadays, dogs have their own barbers, dentists, surgeons, and specialized nutritionists. The new breeds are very expensive to buy and costly to keep. Why then do so many people have them? I have a theory.
People love dogs because they are so faithful. In this day when so many human relationships are broken, dogs fill a need for love that is uncomplicated. If we are away from home, dogs race to meet us when we return. They don’t argue back, they just love us, day after day after day. When I was a boy, my dog Frisky would often follow me to school and wait for me by my bike. Dogs illustrate the faithful love many lonely people are longing for.
In the third in our series we’ve come to another reason why Christians should be students of the created world; THE NATURAL WORLD ILLUSTRATES SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLES. Elements of creation often illustrate how to live, how to act or how not to act.
The author of Proverbs urges us; “go to the ant, you sluggard, learn from his ways and be wise” (Prov. 6:6). Don’t be lazy; work hard. “Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who strays from his home” (Prov. 27:8). Even birds know the importance of faithfulness to one’s family. “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Prov. 27:17). We need friends. Friends inspire us to be thoughtful, dependable, wiser and less self-centred.
Since as Christians we should be continually growing in faith, hope, love and all the godly qualities, we may look around for illustrations that urge us toward more excellence. Mosquitoes, flies and poison ivy remind us that we live in a fallen world and we should not live as if it is all there is. We can live lives of hope and expectation knowing that there will be a new world without evil. Pelicans know where they are going. Do we? Are our lives purposeful?
Isaiah pointed out, “the ox knows his master, the donkey his owner’s manger, but Israel does not know…” (Isaiah 1:3). Even dumb animals remind us to be ever conscious of the Lordship of God over our lives. “In him we live and move and have our being.” Every provision we have comes from his hand. Are we grateful and faithful?
Jesus often used examples from nature to illustrate his teaching. “Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them…why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow…do not worry” (Matt 6:26,28ff). Worrying about what we have or haven’t got, worrying about tomorrow is pointless and shows a lack of faith in our Father’s ability to care for us.
The Bible is full of natural allusions. Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5)
Canada geese fly in a V formation which cuts down individual drag making it easier for all to fly. The individual geese take turns as the lead goose, showing us that shared leadership and group effort is much more effective than going it alone.
Whenever we are out for a hike through the woods or a walk along a lake, we can look around us for lessons that may remind us about how we should live.
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Country Inspiration 