“Bear” is the name of a big furry dog. He is called “Bear” because he has a head that looks something like a bear’s and a very thick neck. He is black all over except for his paws, which are white.
The first few times I saw Bear he growled at me and frightened me even though his master was standing right there.
Bear could hunt quite well in the woods. None of the small animals were safe once he decided to track them down... that is, until he met “Mr. Porcupine.” Bear’s strength, his fierce growl, and his great hunting ability didn’t do him one bit of good when he met him.
His first scrap with Mr. Porcupine was perhaps the most unpleasant.
Without the help of his master and the veterinarian, Bear would have died.
Since Bear had never seen a porcupine before, you can probably guess how he went after it... the wrong way. He pounced on the porcupine and tried to bite him. The porcupine arched its back so that its quills, which come out easily, stuck not only into Bear’s chin, nose, cheeks and paws, they also stuck inside his mouth and even in his throat! Poor Bear!
When his master arrived home he found Bear whimpering in agony and about as sick as any dog could be. His master got a pair of pliers and pulled out as many quills as he could. But the ones in: ear’s throat had to be left for the vet to take out. Bear was in pain for at least another week and had to take medicine so the quill punctures wouldn’t get infected.
What do you think Bear did the next time he saw that porcupine? You wouldn’t believe it! He went right after it again. He didn’t attack quite as forcefully as he did the first time, but he still had to go to the animal hospital to have more quills removed and have more medicine. This happened six times before he learned to leave the porcupine alone!
Doesn’t that sound stupid? Perhaps. But you know, boys and girls, we are a lot like that dog. We think we are strong and able and a match for sin and the devil. But just as Bear didn’t learn the first time, even after we get “stung” by sin we don’t always learn our lesson right away either.
Bear would have died if his master had not come to his rescue. You and I would die in our sins if our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, had not come to rescue us. The Bible says that “the sting of death is sin” (1 Cor. 15:5656The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. (1 Corinthians 15:56)), and that “all have sinned.” (Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23).) Satan, too, has “fiery darts” that he hurls at us. We certainly are no match for sin or Satan. We need a Master, a Saviour who can save us from the awful result of sin. The Lord Jesus died and shed His blood to wash away all our sins. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7). Though “the wages of sin is death... the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23). Won’t you accept Him as your Saviour? Trusting God and the Lord. Jesus gives us a shield to protect us from those fiery darts. The Bible says, “taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Eph. 6:1616Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (Ephesians 6:16). Won’t you “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and... be saved"? Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31). What a Saviour!
ML-04/05/1987