Shade Tree Wisdom 4/25/09

This morning on my way to Bible study I saw a blue bird earnestly chasing a squirrel. I mean he meant business, now and then speeding up and giving a peck or two to the scampering rodent till he managed to reach some bushes and hide. I don’t know what stirred the bird up, maybe the squirrel got too close to a nesting site, but he looked and acted mad, and did something about it. At least the bird was riled up for the right reason. What came to mind was the contretemps reported when Miss California, I believe, said she was raised that marriage meant “one man and one woman”.  And right away she was accused of being ‘insensitive’, narrow minded, and worse. But that illustrates the truth Jesus laid before us. He said,             “Light is come in to this world, and men loved darkness instead of light, because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light, lest his deeds will be exposed.” John 3, 19.20. That’s always the way it works, because Satan is very active, and always tries to make the evil sound good, and the good, evil. His way is always the dark way. But Jesus also warned us about it. Our Lord said, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, because I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you”. John 15, 18.19.              Our dear Lord Jesus also called us “The light of the world”. Matt. 5,14, and “The salt of the earth”. 5,13. Both salt and light reveal. Salt stings, light shows up. The afternoon sun slanting into the west window always showed the dust the cloth missed. So the Christian, by His presence, is a light that shows the world how it ought to be to follow Christ’s teachings.              And that is what the world hates. Light shows imperfections, reveals character flaws, shows the rotten side for what it is, rotten. So the world, when its true lack is shown clearly, reacts by trying to use smear tactics, name calling, and whatever means come handy to try to tear down, rip down, and destroy the truth. So Jesus prayed for you and me, “My prayer is not that You take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one.” John 17,15. So, let’s be strong, and remember that His promise is, “I will be with thee.” So rest content. GPD 4/15/09