Striker and the Snake

Striker Takes on a Snake

                Striker has been dubbed by me, The Orange Blur on the farm. The slim-bodied tom cat can be characterized as active, alert, and down-right smart.

                In mid-spring, during the seasonal deluge of rain, one afternoon I returned from checking cattle and noticed the Orange Blur observing something closely in the front yard. During spring calving season, I always check cattle with my camera since I can immediately snap a photo of the newest calf on the farm. That way Mother can see the most recent addition to her herd.

                To my amazement, Striker’s front left paw gingerly approached a light-colored snake, coiled after a fashion. He quickly decided this reptile was reasonably safe. Striker sniffed for a second and then immediately sunk his sharp little teeth into the snake.

                As I snapped photos of the adventuresome cat, Striker sensed other farm cats approaching. No way would those felines get near his reptilian captive. The Orange Blur snatched the Eastern yellow-bellied racer and sprinted across the front yard, with it in tow, as if to say, “No other cat is going to get this snake!”

                I admire Striker’s spunkiness and fearless nature when he encounters his prey. Striker capturing the snake reminded me of Paul’s command written by the inspiration of God. 2 Corinthians 10:5 states, We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. (English Standard Version)

                As always, our thoughts, debating points, and opinions must be measured according to God’s Word. Then just as Striker took the Eastern yellow-bellied racer captive so we must capture and conform the things upon which we think, along with our long-held opinions, to the principles of the Bible.

I like the way the Phillips version reads, We even fight to capture every thought until it acknowledges the authority of Christ. When we insist on retaining our opinions, even though they run contrary to what God says in His scriptures, it represents overt defiance against the Lord.

May we instead choose to swear our allegiance to Jesus, the King of Kings, and illustrate it in our daily lives as our thoughts, opinions, speech, and actions exalt Him. Only then, as Paul states in verse 15, will our area of influence…be greatly enlarged.