Strong Church The Faithfulness of the Gazelle. Near, where we live, is the Caldwell Zoo. Our family likes to go there and admire all the beautiful creatures God has made. One of the exhibits our kiddos really like is the African exhibit. In this exhibit are elephants, giraffes, zebras, gazelles, and even lions. A lot of work has gone into making this exhibit seem realistic. However, when studied closely with a discerning eye, one can see the unnatural man-made world. While all of these animals can be seen in Africa, they could not survive in such close proximity to one another without adverse effects, as positioned in this exhibit. The most unusual scene in this display is just how close the gazelle and other small deer are to the lion section. These domesticated gazelle don’t truly understand the power of this natural enemy, which is only separated by the small man-made creek. Just a few short feet across the creek, the gazelle graze peacefully. I do not believe native African gazelles would possess such peaceful tranquility with a pride of lions so nearby. In Africa the baby gazelle soon learns how to run. It spends its entire life running from place to place. You might ask, “Why does a gazelle spend his entire life running?” He runs, because the adversary could be chasing him. Potential killing grounds for the lion exist behind every bush, in the tall grass, or behind a boulder. The gazelle spends his entire life trying to make it to the next day, and he knows the only way to accomplish this goal is to run. The gazelle must be faithful in his running. For the day he chooses to walk, chooses to slow his pace just a little, might be the very day the lion takes him down. Christians must truly be like the gazelle. We must run every day towards the goal of Heaven. Many slow up; many stop completely, while in mid-stride. It is so easy to slow down our pace in our spiritual life. Manifold are the distractions along the way. Some lose sight of the finish line; some become winded in the race. As Christians, we must remove the many diversions from our lives, which hinder our race. Today we are all so busy and involved in many extracurricular activities. Our kids bounce from one sport to the next, we rush from work, put on supper, get the laundry done, run back to PTA meetings, Karate practice, or Gymnastics, and finally hasten back home for a short night’s sleep. We focus on making it to the weekend sporting events, squeeze in an hour with the Lord on Sunday, and begin the rotation all over again Monday morning. Have we become too busy to run the true race? Do we need to slow down? No! We need to make the true race our priority! What if we put as much energy into serving the Lord, as we do making sure our kids engage in every sport known to man? Parents will jump through hoops to make sure their children are gratifying every social need possible, but how much time and energy do we expend on fulfilling their spiritual needs? Are we teaching our children how to run the faithful race? Can they learn to run effectively by watching us as their role models? I believe, because we become so involved with goings-on in life, we lose sight of the finish line. Do we long for the race to be over to inherit the glory waiting on the other side of the finish line? Do we understand the kind of race we run is a determination for receiving the prize? The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.” How do you look at life? Do you view your life as a race: a race, where a prize waits for the faithful runners, and one, where punishment awaits those who slow down? We must keep our eyes fixed on the finish line, and we must run the faithful race with determination to win the prize. Often times we quit the race, because we become winded. We lose heart, because we haven’t conditioned ourselves for the race. Paul, also, tells us in verse 27 of the same passage, “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” Paul himself realized one must be disciplined to finish the race. He, too, feared the possibility of being disqualified from the race. In order to be conditioned runners in the race, we need to learn to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17). We need to meditate upon good things and expel the bad thoughts. Philippians 4:8 tells us, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” We must study God’s word to know the rules of the race, lest we be disqualified. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” Finally, in order to be in good condition as faithful runners, we need to fellowship with God’s people, so we can be stirred up and help others to be stirred up to live faithful lives. Hebrews 10:25-26 speaks to this point, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” How good it will be, when our time draws near, to be able proclaim like Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” (2 Tim. 4:7-8) Many today are like the domesticated gazelle that grazes away, not realizing a destroying enemy lurks a short distance away. The only thing missing is the creek barrier. So many live their lives not realizing the lion already grasps them in his mighty jaws and grips them by his ferocious claws. “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet 5:8) I want to receive my reward one day. I know all distractions must be removed to keep my eyes fixed on the finish line. I must engage in constant conditioning of my spiritual life to finish the race. I know I have the promise of the crown of life, if I will remain faithful, as Revelation 2:10 commands us, “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Fellow Christians, let us be wise, let us be watchful, let us be faithful, let us be RUNNING! by: Nat Ayers wp.me/p2OVE3-FC strongchurch.org/the-faithfulness-of-the-gazelle/
Posted on: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 12:48:35 +0000
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