Boots was an outdoor cat that enjoyed the freedom of wandering around the big farm. The two boys who lived on the farm, Ed and Andy, enjoyed their pet cats and dogs and were often outside playing with them.
Late one afternoon the boys were surprised, and then very upset, when they saw a young bald eagle swoop down across the yard, catch Boots in its talons and start to fly upward again. Bald eagles have long, sharp talons for seizing their prey, and this time it was poor Boots! Bald eagles also have strong, broad wings which are ideal for soaring and for long-distance flying, even when carrying their prey. So poor Boots was being taken on a flight that probably would end in disaster for him.
Sometimes Satan is like an eagle, and you and I are his prey. He is swift to present bad thoughts to our minds, sometimes tempting us to tell lies or do things we know are wrong. He is successful too often. But, there is a Saviour who can help us when we are caught in Satan’s talons. He will free us if we will call to Him in our need.
But poor Boots didn’t have anybody who could rescue him from the eagle’s sharp talons once the eagle started to fly. Higher and higher he was being carried, but he struggled and struggled, and finally he struggled free from the eagle’s talons and fell to the ground!
Back came the eagle after Boots. Ed and Andy raced across the yard, shouting and waving and doing everything they could think of to frighten the eagle away. Finally, the eagle flew off, and the boys were able to save their injured cat.
The Lord Jesus is the only one who can save you and me from our enemy Satan. The Lord Jesus says in Isaiah 45:2222Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:22), “Look unto Me, and be ye saved . . . for I am God, and there is none else.” “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:1313For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)). Are you struggling against sin and Satan? The Lord Jesus loves you a whole lot more than Ed and Andy loved their cat, and He will save you from sin and Satan right now if you will call to Him.
Boots was taken on a quick trip to the animal doctor to have his wounds sewn up. He had to spend a couple of days in the animal hospital before he recovered enough to return to the farm.
Once he was back home, do you think Boots became a more watchful cat, especially when he was out in the yard? I hope so, because that eagle probably lives in the area, and he may be back for the dinner he missed the first time. And you and I who have been saved from our sins and Satan’s grasp need to be very watchful for Satan’s temptations. We belong to the Lord Jesus, so Satan can never take our salvation away from us, but he is still anxious to harm us and make us unhappy. We can hide in the arms of the Lord Jesus and be safe. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe” (Proverbs 18:1010The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. (Proverbs 18:10)). “In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge” (Proverbs 14:2626In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. (Proverbs 14:26)).
ML-09/10/2000