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Like Fencing-in a cat
You’ve heard the phrase “like herding cats.” I’ve never tried herding cats, but I have tried fencing in a cat. Let me tell you, it doesn’t work.
Recently I installed an invisible fence in my back yard. It’s a line you bury that sends a small shock to a special collar your pet wears upon getting too close to the line. You place white flags along the buried line so your pet learns to associate the flags with pain. Eventually, once your pet learns the perimeters of the invisible fence, you remove the flags and your pet is supposed to remain in the safe area.
That process is easy enough to do with a dog. Cats are a different ball game. They don’t like to be trained, especially when that training involves a leash (my own bright idea). After letting my poor cat get shocked a couple of times with a leash on — which was a complete disaster — I decided to just turn her loose and let her learn on her own.
Since I couldn’t stay outside all day and watch her, I went inside for a little while. Predictably, within a few minutes she totally disappeared. She ran past the line and was nowhere to be found.
As it turns out, she returned a few hours later. Still, I have given up all hope of being able to fence her in. In fact, two nights later she disappeared again — twice.
I was only trying to protect her by fencing her in, but she didn’t understand that. Hopefully she won’t get killed by a dog or run over by a car.
We, like cats, dislike being fenced in. We want the freedom to run wild and do whatever we want. In the Bible sin is often called ‘transgression’ or a ‘trespass.’ Both terms mean to go across. Anytime we sin, we are going across the perimeters of God’s will.
Sadly, when we cross that line, even though we may absorb the shock of the physical consequences of sin, we often don’t learn the lesson. We’re willing to suffer pain if it means we can run free.
God is trying to fence mankind in — for our own good, of course — but most people do not allow Him to. He’s only trying to help us avoid the horrific consequences of sin, yet many people view His commands as nothing but a killjoy.
In Deuteronomy 10:13, Moses said, “Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today FOR YOUR GOOD?”
Don’t be like a cat. Let God fence you in. Understand that He only wants what is best for you. Let go of pride and stubbornness, and allow your Master to train you to remain safely within the perimeters He has set in His infinite wisdom.
