Curiosity Can Kill a Cat

           My cat, Sawyer, gave me a scare the other night.  Ever since we lost 2 cats last year who were indoor/outdoor cats, I have been exceptionally over-protective of my 3 indoor cats.  We often let Sawyer have free range of our screened-in porch, and that night, he was out there.  I was checking to see if he wanted back in, when I noticed the back door was open!  So, I hate to admit it, but this cat lady-in-the-making panicked!  My brother came out because of all my woeful calls, and I poured out all my worries and fears for my darn cat.  He gave me this look of utter disdain and told me to calm down.  He immediately heard Sawyer’s meows and we found our cowardly lion hiding nearby.  When we first brought him in, Sawyer was so scared, but within about 10 minutes, he was meowing at the door wanting back out.

            Isn’t life a lot like that?  Our parents or pastors try so hard to protect us from the outside world, and we always wonder what’s out there.  Then, when some people give in to their curiosities, the temptation to go back out there is even harder to resist.  That is part of the reason why so many young adults turn away from God once they go out on their own.  King Solomon decided to explore all the world had to offer; he had access to all the riches and pleasures he desired, and here’s what he had to say:

“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
    I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my labor,
    and this was the reward for all my toil.
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
    and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
    nothing was gained under the sun.” (Ecc. 2:10-11)

 

So, instead of trying to get to the other side of the fence to see what the world has to offer, shouldn’t we be offering our lives to God?  It is not easy, the world likes to sugarcoat sins, and whether we have tasted them or not, the temptation never goes away.  But our God is stronger than temptation.  He gave us this promise in 1 Corinthians 10:13: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

            When Sawyer went outside, the porch door was still open.  He had a chance to come back in to safety on his own instead of being reprimanded by his humans.  Don’t be like my cat, if God leaves a door open for you to get out of something, use it!  Remember that sin is only pleasurable for a season and it does reap consequences.  Obey God and seek His will for your life to avoid the pain of regret and discover His blessings instead!