On YouTube lately there have been short videos featuring a Venus flytrap. The owner releases different species into the terrarium; a black widow spider, a scorpion, a crayfish and a garden snail. The only one that escaped and survived was the humble snail. The physical strength and speed of the others actually ensured their untimely demise because inside the Venus flytrap are little hair triggers so that when something is trapped the more it struggles the more they are triggered and the quicker and tighter it will close upon its unsuspecting victim. The snail at its mild pace was barely inside the trap when it started to close and with its hard shell kept it open enough to slowly work its way out the side of the carnivorous plant and escape.
This experiment serves as an apt metaphor for a few things in our Christian walk
It is similar to the dangerous impulse to get rich 1 Timothy 6:9-10
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
It is like fighting against Gods will; Acts 26:14
And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ To “kick against the goads” is defined as an exercise in futility. It is pointless and cannot succeed. The Greeks and Romans used this saying to imply “ruinous resistance.”
Being flexible, patient and thoughtful ; James 1:19 – Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger… Wise and godly decisions take time, and godliness cannot be rushed.
It demonstrates the value of perseverance when tested. James 1:2-4
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Beyond these, I am reminded of one other important aspect of our Christian walk – which is to teach, gently rebuke and to be kind; 2 Timothy 2:24-26
“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will”.
As a parent there a few things I feel like I have said constantly to our young daughter over the past few years, which are: Slow down, Be gentle, and (not quite as often) Be Kind.
We will do well then to remind ourselves daily of these things, making every effort to put God’s will into practice within His kingdom, which has come to earth.