Coyotes nipping at our heels....

The front yard of our new house is a shared, open area consisting of a sea of tall grass, in which the two big dogs next door love to romp and play. When the “coast is clear” and the big dogs are inside, there is a skinny, scruffy little coyote that likes to hunt for mice and voles in those grasses - surprisingly, often in broad daylight.

The poor thing has some open wounds and is missing part of its tail, but it’s apparently healing well, because it keeps returning. It’s not bothering anyone; it’s merely doing what coyotes were designed to do: Live, procreate and help balance the ecology by ridding the world of rodents and road-kill, etc. (Of course, it would also eat your Chihuahua or aging cat, if left outside unattended - but that’s not the coyote’s fault, because it’s YOUR responsibility to make sure your pets are safe.)

Well, this morning, while the little coyote was out there hunting, the neighbors let their big dogs out; and they immediately and unceremoniously chased the little coyote away – which got me to thinking: Isn’t that exactly how people (including those who believe themselves to be “religious”) treat those of us who live our Torah observant faith to the fullest?

Like those spoiled, well-fed dogs next door that attacked an animal that has to fend for itself and fight to stay alive on a daily basis, the “religious” and the “lukewarm” and the atheists of this world, are constantly attacking and harassing and trying to keep us from what YHWH designed us to do: Be set apart/holy unto Him (Leviticus 11:44-45, 19:2, 20:7; 1 Peter 1:16, etc); constantly learn and grow via the diligent and ceaseless grazing through the lush pastures of His Word (1 Peter 2:2, 2 Peter 3:18; Ephesians 3:17-19; Colossians 3:16; 1 Timothy 4:15; Hebrews 6:1-2, etc.); and allow our lights to shine for all to see as we spread knowledge of His Word (Psalm 119:105; Matthew 5:14-16; John 8:12; etc).

“The world” (consisting of atheism and religion and religiosity and all manner of paganism) is constantly yapping and nipping at our heels, protecting its carnal perimeters from us. We are viewed as a major threat because we live in a “fallen world” consisting of serpents seeking to devour and destroy anything resembling holiness. Whenever we get too close for comfort, they chase us out, nip at our heels, even KILL some of us (which, for instance, is what ISIS and their ilk are doing right now!).

But, regardless as to what perils we face as we doggedly continue to let our lights shine in this dark world, Scripture promises that those who endure to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13) - not necessarily “kept alive” physically, but at least we can KNOW where we are going when we die, which is really ALL that matters. Halleluyah, praised be the Name of YHWH and His Divine Messiah, Yeshua!

Romans 13: 11. And this also know you, that it is the time and the hour that we should therefore awaken from our sleep. For now our life has come nearer to us than when we believed. 12. The night now passes away, and the day draws near. Let us therefore cast from us the works of darkness; and let us put on the armor of light. 13. And let us walk decorously, as in daylight; not in merriment, nor in drunkenness, nor in impurity of the bed, nor in envy and strife. 14. But clothe yourselves with our Master Y’shua the Mashiyach: and pay no concern about your flesh for the indulgence of appetites. (AENT)