The Coyote and the Rabbit

A Coyote in Action

                One winter morning I walked to fill the stock tank with water for the cattle. Glancing into the west pasture, I spotted a coyote. It sauntered aimlessly. Suddenly, it broke into a sprint. I thought for a millisecond, What is it chasing? Almost immediately, only a few steps ahead of the predatory animal ran a small rabbit. The frightened hare stretched to its full length to escape its determined predator. The tiny prey raced to a gully where used hay coverings are placed. As it approached the shed, the coyote pulled up, recognizing it had lost the chase.

                Being so tenderhearted, I breathed a sigh of relief to not witness the demise of the rabbit. Scriptures began to appear in my mind. The first verse was:

Flee fornication. I Corinthians 6:18

In my memory, Jon Ogle, a former pastor of our church in Ralston, is associated with this verse. Jon preached boldly on this verse. He explained “flee” should be interpreted from the original Greek as “flee or run as a man in terror.” Brother Jon recognized how devastating sexual sin is in individual lives, marriages, and most of all, in families, especially impacting the children. 

Bro. Jon Ogle when in
Ralston in the 1980s.

The Bible commands three other reasons to “flee” or as Brother Jon’s would say “run as a man in terror.” The second verse can be found a few chapters further in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians.

Flee idolatry. I Corinthians 10:14

Idolatry refers to anything or anyone elevated above God in our lives. Sometimes we don’t recognize our idolatry because it isn’t overt or obvious to us. But anytime we look to our own strategizing, finagling to achieve what we want or think is best, or lean on our understanding, we are not trusting Him. We are trusting ourselves and making our own capabilities the idol.

               In Paul’s writing to his protégé, Timothy, he addressed the third verse when he wrote “those who desire to be rich fall into temptation” and “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” In the following verse, He told Timothy:

But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.  I Timothy 6:11

Using Brother Jon’s admonition, we should run from the obsession to be rich since it leads to loving money which is defined by the Apostle Paul as “a root of all kinds of evil.” Ironically, when we love money, the money becomes an idol.

                Finally, in Paul’s second letter to Timothy, written shortly before his beheading by the Roman government, he instructed Timothy in chapter 2, verse 22:

Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22

Paul told Timothy to flee, run as a man in terror, from youthful lusts. Youthful, immature indiscretions are not limited to younger people in age. Years lived on the planet never guarantee wisdom nor wise living. As a person ages, experience should add wisdom but, how easily an older person can slip back into youthful temptations. My father used to quote the adage, There’s no fool like an old fool. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 3, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” That reverential respect of the Lord will compel a person, no matter the age, to pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace.

                Like the rabbit, running in terror from the coyote, may we run from any form of immorality, idolatry, the love of money, and lust characteristic of youthfulness. Brother Jon Ogle would affirm this will honor the Lord and lead to a life worth living.

Bro. Jon Ogle during the 120th
Anniversary of the Ralston
Baptist Church on 
November 5, 2017.