Learning From Creature Wisdom!

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. Proverbs 6:6-8 NIV

In the early morning on a spring day, when the air has a little chill in it, but the sun is shining, I love to sit outside, bundled in warmth, with a hot cup of coffee and watch nature at work. Every time I do, I marvel at God’s Wisdom and how it functions in the “lower species” the insects and animals.

Chasing each other along the electric lines and phones high in the air, the squirrels put on an amazing balancing act; I have never seen one fall, while watching their antics.

Then I listen to the birds singing their songs and I believe they are songs of praise and everyone once in a while, I hear a woodpecker though I have yet to see it.

When the rabbits dare to leave their burrows (and a number of them are in my back yard), the hop through the yard, nibbling here and there,  pausing occasionally to look at me and I just smile and talk to them.

But the ant is best observed in the summer months when they are scurrying about every where, gathering their food and marching in columns that would rival any military regime. I have watched them carry pieces of food so much larger than they are, but they do it as a team, knowing that working together they can accomplish much more than trying to do something on their own. Why don’t we see them in cooler months? They were innately programmed with God’s Wisdom to do as God intended them to do-for their survival–they gather in the warm months when food is available and store it so they don’t have to forage for food in the cold months. While conditions are good–food is available–they gather and store for future use. 

How many of us can say that we have gathered what we need, while conditions are good, and stored what we need for future use? If we were as smart as the ants–we’d never know hunger, poverty, or hatred. We’d know how to work as a team and we wouldn’t wait for someone else to lord it over us–inciting us to do something.

Think about it! Most of us are annoyed with ants when they find their way into our homes and do what we can to get rid of them. But outside in the yards and crevices of the sidewalk we see the mounds of dirt they tunnel through when leaving or going back to their abodes. What tiny creatures they are and I can imagine their brains–are not nearly large enough to store the wisdom they have because God intended them to be so.

What did God intend for us? He intended for us to use the brains He gave us to seek Him and know Wisdom in order to survive the attacks of the enemy and the poverty most experience when they do not know how to avoid it. God has given us all a measure of faith, eyes to see and ears to hear and hearts for compassion, and hands to work, but do we have the wisdom of the ants?

Instead of looking for others to take care of our needs, we should learn from the ant–how to work together for the survival of all and to gather and store what’s needed while it’s available, for future use. 

I’m waiting to see how long it will take for me to marvel at how human beings work together, towards the survival for all, gathering and storing what we need for the benefit of all.

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Safe!

But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign Lord, in you I take refuge–do not give me over to death. Keep me safe from the traps set by evildoers, from the snares they have laid for me. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety. (Psalm 141:8-10 NIV)

“Safe” calls the umpire as the crowd roars–some with joy and others moan in defeat–the runner is safe and the game is won.

I’ve actually played softball and know how those guarding the bases attempt to “trap” a runner who is trying to get home. For instance, when the runner hesitates between trying to make it between second and third base, the runner is caught between two people who are moving in for the kill, trying to keep them trapped within the boundaries to tag them out. The crafty runner–one who knows how to trick one of the players into actually throwing the ball, dodges in and out once the ball is thrown, they run to the next base and if the unfortunate player misses the ball on the return throw, the runner runs home, just in the nick of time and is deemed, “safe” from any further attempt to get them out.

When I picture the snares and traps that Satan sets for all those who are Believers, I smile. I can see the bear trap hidden under the leaves with its mighty jaws ready to spring shut, once the trap is touched. Then I see a squirrel, scurry across the trap and hear the spring snap, attempting to catch its prey, but the squirrel is long gone and the bear sniffs at the trap and moves on.

How many times has Satan spread a net of deceit, lies, and temptable goodies in front of us, hoping to snare us and force us to give up the race we are running so well? Though many of us have fallen for the goodies, many more are wise enough to see beyond the goodies to know why they’re placed in front of us. We know a lie when we hear one and will not be deceived, but the foolish–ah! They are not so wise and when they see a feast that entices them–they jump at it and when the net–with its goodies is dangling from a tree, the rest of us walk by–safely, shaking our heads at the misfortune of the trapped.

On many levels, Believers are tempted to do all those things they once did, but when they know The Lord, and are willing to obey, The Lord alerts them to dangers, the snares and traps Satan sets to distract and get them off course. We’re tempted to lie to save on taxes, but don’t. We’re tempted to take that which is not ours when opportunity presents itself, but we don’t. We’re tempted to cheat on spouses when tempters and temptresses come on the scene, but most of us don’t. I wish I could say that none of us–who are true Believers–never fall, but that would be a lie and I will not give in to that temptation. The truth is, we fall short, but when we are honest with ourselves and God, we repent and get back up, ready to run the obstacle course once more. And until we die, we’ll be running the obstacle course that Satan has devised for us, but when we call upon The Lord, He will save us and when that day, that glorious day comes when we enter into heaven, we’ll hear, “You’re safe!”

That’s what Believers will hear, but what will the unbelieving and doubters hear when they finish their course? “You’re out!” And entry into heaven is lost to them, forever.