A Pig Chase

What you don't see in this photo, taken at about 6:00 a.m. this morning, is me in my pajamas and little silk bed jacket, running after the pig, madly trying to make the most of a photo op, without getting charged, and chase him out the gate at the same time. I think that would have been a better picture. More amusing anyway. And, in my haste I deleted everything but this one shot from my memory card. How did that happen? The poor thing (a wild adolescent boar) must have been trying to get out most of the night. Around 11 p.m. I thought I heard pigs, so went down the drive and shut the gate. In the early morning I heard snorting sounds again and wondered if one had gotten trapped inside. Sure enough.

You might be wondering if this is going anywhere. And, yes, it is. When I was interrupted by the boar, I had been writing about what a great parable God gave us in the Old Testament. They were commanded to go into Canaan and take the land, as the "iniquity of the Amorites" had reached its limit in God's perfect timing. The Israelites were given the land - the outcome was promised to them by God and He did give them victory. Their part was to be committed, faithful and obedient to the Lord. They were told to "be strong and courageous" and fight the necessary battles, believing God for the outcome.

Christians are to take enemy territory as well. We are told in Ephesians 6 to "Put on the full armor of God." Spiritual warfare is called for. Satan was defeated at the Cross by Jesus, but he still holds a lot of territory in human souls. However, we are also commanded, "be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power." Ephesians 6:10 And, Jesus assured his church, "the gates of hell will not stand against" our onslaught.

Getting back to the piggy point (yes Margaret, there is one), at times - even though he doesn't really belong - a spirit agent of the enemy may enter (or have been in all along & not ejected from) our saved Christian lives, if we've left the gate open. And, he'll be happy to stay there too, unlike the boar who wanted desperately to get his freedom back. I guess habitual sin could be compared to an automatic gate opener. As an addendum, I'd like to add this quote, which is appropriate:

Ed Welch: “There is a mean streak to authentic self-control. Self-control is not for the timid. When we want to grow in it, not only do we nurture an exuberance for Jesus Christ, we also demand of ourselves a hatred for sin. The only possible attitude toward out-of-control desire is a declaration of all-out war. There is something about war that sharpens the senses. You hear a twig snap or the rustling of leaves and you are in attack mode. Someone coughs and you are ready to pull the trigger. Even after days of little or no sleep, war keeps us vigilant.”