A LESSON FROM A SQUIRREL

Mike Johnson

A few years ago, while walking, I saw a squirrel fall from a tree, which is something I never expected to see.  I have often watched squirrels perform all kinds of incredible acrobatic feats.  I have seen them walk across a telephone wire; I have seen them jump gracefully from one tree to the nimble branch of another tree; I have seen them make all kinds of graceful jumps, climbs, and hops.  I am amazed at all they can do.  However, I never expected to see one fall!  It happened as the squirrel jumped from one tree to another.  It may have misjudged the distance or perhaps the strength of the branch on the other side.  The squirrel fell from quite a distance, doing a “belly-buster” as it hit the ground.  The squirrel seemed unhurt.  It got up apparently unscathed and perhaps a little embarrassed.  I just never expected to see a squirrel fall; it was something that, in my mind, was not supposed to happen.

Many unexpected things happen.  We sometimes hear, “You can expect the unexpected.”  The following is a list of things to think about that people do not expect to happen but often do.

The FAILURE OF A MARRIAGE

The Bible teaches that marriage is to be for life.  In Matthew 19:6, Jesus said, “…What therefore God  hath joined together, let not man put asunder..”   Jesus said, in Matthew 5:32, “…whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.”

Many people understand this passage; they intend their marriage to last a lifetime and never expect it to fail.  However, despite expectations, marriages sometimes fail.  The success of a marriage is not automatic.  Couples should enter this relationship with a determination that the marriage is to last for a lifetime.  Also, two people must work to make sure that their marriage is a success.  If they do not, the unexpected may happen; the marriage may fail.

CHILDREN WHO GO ASTRAY

 Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”  Ephesians 6:4 says that children are to be brought up “…in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”  Christians should desire and expect their children to grow up and become faithful Christians.  Again, this is not automatic, so parents must teach and train their children in the Lord’s way.  If they do not, their children may fail in the most critical part of their life, which is their relationship with God.

 PREACHERS WHO PREACH FALSE DOCTRINE

Preachers are to preach sound doctrine (II Tim. 4:3, Titus 2:1).  They have a significant responsibility.  Many will listen to a particular preacher over time and gain confidence in him.  Their confidence, however, may ultimately produce complacency as they stop being on guard against false doctrine.  Consequently, they neither “try the spirits” (I Jn. 4:1) nor “search the scriptures daily” to see if teaching is correct (Acts 17:11).

STRONG CHRISTIANS FALLING

God commands Christians to grow (II Pet. 3:17, 18).  Many Christians do grow, and they become stable and mature as children of God.  Most everyone knows there is a chance a weak Christian can fall.  However, we do not expect it of a spiritually mature Christian.  It is not automatic that even a strong Christian will remain faithful all of his life.  Paul, a strong Christian, said in I Corinthians 9:27, “But I keep under my body, and  bring  it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”  He also warned, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”  (I Cor. 10:12) Are you a strong Christian?  If so, do not take it for granted that you cannot fall, but instead, take heed, be careful, and continue to grow (II Pet.  1:5-11).

  BEING LOST ETERNALLY

The Bible teaches the lost will dwell an eternity in hell (Mt. 25:46).  Many people believe in some punishment after death, but very few people view hell as a threat to them.  A survey showed that only 1% of our population felt that hell was a threat to them.  Many who are not faithful Christians expect.  In Matthew 7:21, Jesus said, “Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”  Many expect salvation, but they will not gain it.  Salvation is not automatic.

CONCLUSION

Christians need to be on guard.  It is not automatic that our marriage will be a success, our children will grow up to be faithful Christians, preachers will always preach the truth, Christians (even strong ones) will remain steadfast and never fall, or that we will go to heaven instead of hell.  We must not assume too much in any of the above areas.  Remember the story of the squirrel.  Things often happen that we never expect to happen.