January 16, 2013 (Wednesday)
“Take heed that thou be in truth as good as all men account thee” — Peasant to Francis of Assisi
I saw a video yesterday of a cat barking like a dog. Honestly, he sounded just like a dog. He barked numerous times in rapid succession, then turned around to look at the camera and meowed. It was as if he was resorting to his own voice to ask, “How did I do?”
When we see and hear such things, we cannot help but be confused. We expect a dog to bark and a cat to meow. Other animals make their own unique sounds. So when one species makes the sounds another species makes, we are baffled by that. We just don’t understand the situation. It’s not supposed to happen.
The Apostle James observed such an inconsistency in the natural world, and asked, “Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening?” (James 3:11 HCSB). This is a rhetorical question, emphasizing the obvious answer. A spring of water is either bitter or sweet. It cannot be both.
Jesus saw a similar lesson in the trees: “By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?” (Matthew 7:16 NIV).
We are uncomfortable when we expect meows, sweet water, and grapes but get barks, bitter water, and thorns instead.
Christians have gained a reputation in the world for being good people, kind and generous, living holy lives. Imagine how disillusioned the people of the world must be when they see Christian people behaving in ways that dishonor the name of their Savior.
The Apostle Paul reminded us of a truth that should permeate our lives as the people of God: “..anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV).