As I was driving to church I came across a huge snapping turtle on the middle of the road. The turtle was making noises and snapping its jaws at the tires of cars that were trying to avoid it. I had work boots on, as I was heading to the church for a workbee. I gently kicked the turtle to the side, and the next thing I know, it was latched onto the side of my boot. Shaking its head, at me as if we were in combat, I guess he thought he was David, and I was the Goliath that came into the midst of the battlefield. The cars that were waiting quickly drove around to avoid Mr. Snapper. I had a problem, I was trying to save the turtle, but he didn’t want any help. I didn’t want to see Mr. Snapper become a statistic of a road kill. I then tried to grab the turtle from the rear section, and to my surprise, the neck extended almost all the way back and he opened his mouth and snapped. Close call! I now was angry, frustrated, and upset with Mr. Snapper. I grabbed a cloth bin in the back of the car, took the lid, and whacked Mr. Snapper back into his senses, and he landed inside the bin. He was furious that he now was inside a plastic bin. He snapped, he made noises; he was going through a temper tantrum. Well Mr. Snapper was not a happy camper. I walked a few hundred yards to the pond, and gently guided him home. As he hit the water, he turned and gave me a look of disappointment. Here I was, trying to save the turtle, and all he did was make noises, snapped his jaw at me, and was frustrated that I interfered with him during the battle of the tires. I was reminded how often souls that are lost fight against God from being saved. God comes and intervenes, and they kick and scream, and fight God. Until one day they realize that God is trying to save them, and finally they come to their senses. I am reminded of the story of Nebuchadnezzar. God spoke to him by dreams, and each time God was patient and kind to the king. Each time God was trying to bring him to the point of salvation. But one day God had to place the king inside the bin, and move him to another location. “ This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws. And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: Daniel 4:24,25,33,34
In the end, the king gave his heart to the Lord. God has many ways of reaching us. Our testimony of how God brought us into salvation is unique, and different from all others. Some fight God like Mr. Snapper. Others fight God like Mr. Rattle-snake who makes noises so they are left along. Still others fight God, like Mr. Possum. Who play dead and act like they don’t hear you. Others are like foxes. They are very elusive. In the end, God never gives up on us. His goal is simple. He fights to save us. Here are some additional insights. “It was taught by the Jews that before God’s love is extended to the sinner, he must first repent. In their view, repentance is a work by which men earn the favor of Heaven. And it was this thought that led the Pharisees to exclaim in astonishment and anger. ‘This man receiveth sinners.’ According to their ideas He should permit none to approach Him but those who had repented. But in the parable of the lost sheep, Christ teaches that salvation does not come through our seeking after God but through God’s seeking after us. ‘There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way.’ Romans3:11, 12. We do not repent in order that God may love us, but He reveals to us His love in order that we may repent.” {COL 189.1}
How are we with God? Do we snap? Do we rattle? Do we play dead? Are we elusive? In the end, God understands what we are doing. In the end He fights for our salvation. “Only through faith in Christ is it possible for man to live the law. Man is not able to save himself, but the Son of God fights his battles for him, and places him on vantage ground by giving him His divine attributes. And as man accepts the righteousness of Christ, he is a partaker of the divine nature. He may keep the commandments of God, and live. Says Peter: … Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” {LHU 152.4}
May God bless us today as we are draw closer to Him by His love
Angel
Angel J. Rodriguez, D.Min
Houston Central – Senior Pastor
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