Ready to Pounce

What’s your favorite animal? For most, I imagine it’s dogs. I prefer cats. Don’t judge, me and I won’t judge you! But how about when it comes to non-domesticated creatures? For me, it’s still felines. I love big cats: lions, tigers, cougars, cheetahs…. They’re such beautiful, graceful creatures. Whether large or small, have you ever watched one hunt? There’s not much difference between our cat Pepper and his much larger counterparts. They get low to the ground and move stealthily about until they’re ready to pounce! Heaven help whatever prey they’re attacking.

That picture is one God paints in His Word regarding temptation to sin and a tactic of Satan against us. We first see it in the Garden of Eden. The Lord is explaining the situation to Cain who was angry because his sacrifice was not what the Almighty required. It’s found in Genesis 4:7: If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." (NIV) The wording used in this verse congers in my mind the picture of a cat that is ready to pounce on its victim.

The description given in I Peter 5:8 is even clearer: Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (ESV) The passage continues to tell us how to defend ourselves against this cunning, vicious, and calculating “cat”: Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. (I Peter 5:9 ESV) James 4:7 expands upon how we can keep the evil one from pouncing on us: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (ESV)

The next time you see any size cat getting ready to leap on and attack something, may it be a reminder to take a stand in the Lord and not allow yourself to be enticed by whatever may be tempting you.

Just something we can learn from felines along the way.