The tiger, like the lion, is a giant cat. He has no mane, but his coat of bright orange-yellow, is all covered over with black stripes. In India’s jungle land, overgrown with tall thick bushes and grass, many a tiger makes his home. He can run so swiftly that the fastest horse cannot overtake him. With great bounds he goes over the ground at a fearful speed.
Like other members of the cat tribe, the tiger has whiskers. They help him to steal softly among the branches and thick bushes. By the slightest touch on his whiskers, the tiger knows even in the deepest darkness when there is anything in his path, and whether it would make too much noise as he creeps along.
Some English officers once went out hunting in India. Returning home through the jungle they found a pretty little tiger kitten, and they took him home with them. They put a collar and chain around him and tied him to the pole inside their tent. The little tiger played about, to the delight of all the men. But just as it was growing dark, they heard a sound that caused the bravest among them to shiver. It was the roar of a great tiger.
At once the little kitten strained at the chain with all its baby strength, and tried to break loose. It uttered a loud wail that replied to the terrible voice outside. Suddenly there leaped into the very middle of the tent a huge mother tiger! She caught up her kitten by the neck and snapped with one jerk the chain which bound it. Then, turning to the tent door, she dashed away at full speed into the jungle.
I am not sorry to tell you that not a gun was fired at the brave mother as she bore her young one off in triumph.
Like the little tiger kitten, I was once a captive, taken captive by Satan at his will, held fast by the chains of sin. But just as the little tiger was content to play in his captivity so long as he was well fed, so I was content to go on in my sins. Then, as the voice of the mother tiger awakened in him a longing to be free, so the voice of the Saviour speaking to my heart awakened in me a desire to be saved. I cried to the Lord to deliver me from my sins, and He heard my cry. By His Mighty power He snapped those chains which bound me, and set me free. He has redeemed my soul, and now He is taking me home to heaven. Blessed be His name!
The Lord Jesus came into this world to save sinners (1 Tim. 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)). In His death and resurrection He has broken the power of death and Satan (for all who have faith to trust Him), and He has been setting captives free since then. He has set them free to live for Him down here. He has gone back to heaven where He has prepared a home for all those that love Him.
Have you been set free, dear young reader? If still unsaved, may God grant that you realize the power of sin and Satan that holds you fast. If you will cry in faith, “Lord Jesus, save me,” He will come and deliver you from sin’s guilt and power.
ML 11/07/1965