Last week I
spent far too much discretionary time dealing with ants. I don’t mean fire ants
or carpenter ants, though the former I can live without anywhere. I mean those
neat little cleaner ants that are fond of finding stray crumbs on your kitchen
counter.
After
cleaning kitchen, dining room, and bathroom with ammonia and spraying both
inside baseboards and outside foundations with insecticide, we solved our
problem with a simple ant bait trap. It was only four inches long and less than
two inches wide. Almost overnight the ants disappeared.
When they
remain outdoors, I have no problem with ants, except fire ants of course.
Varieties of ants turn dead wood into dirt. Their efforts allow the death of
other creatures to become a source of nutrition for new life. Their tunnels
allow air and water to seep into the ground enriching it. An ant colony has
been used as a symbol of fruitful work and cooperation for thousands of years.
The themes
of preparation and hard work as illustrated by the life of ants runs through
the book of Proverbs. (6:6-11; 18:9; 19:15, 24; 20:13; 24:30-34; 30:25) In
brief statements and in extended examples, ants are used to teach qualities
that every individual should exhibit. The ant is praised for its ability to
prepare for the future, to work with others, and to keep working until the job
is done.
The concept
of preparation is emphasized by Jesus as he leads his disciples to look to the
future. (Mark 13) Problems lie ahead, and unless his followers are ready for
the coming events, they will be destroyed. He tells his disciples to watch, but
it is a working watchfulness.
As surely as
the ant prepares in the summer for the winter ahead, so must followers of
Christ prepare for the times when practicing one’s faith will be a challenge
and a risk to relationships, health, and life itself. As Jesus taught those
first apostles, what was done to the master and teacher will surely come upon
the students. (Matthew 10:24-25) It is a time for which all believers must
prepare.
We desire a society
in which we can practice our faith without hindrance. The laws of our land say
that is a right for all Americans. Other countries, however, have similar laws
related to religious freedom. Those laws are often interpreted in different
ways and applied unequally among groups. Laws enacted and enforced by man can
never form the limits or parameters of our faith expression. As the Apostle
Peter said, “We must obey God.” (Acts 4)
Some would
say those times of limited religious expression are upon us. Whether that is
true or not, Christ-followers must be about the Kingdom business to which they
were called. Their nature is now defined as Kingdom servants/citizens. There is
one guide that is supreme, the Father speaking through his Son and the Bible.
While living
in Arizona, I watched the sudden downpours of rain that came during the monsoon
season washing away the ant mounds common in the desert. Within hours after the
rain had stopped, the mounds began to reappear. Perseverance is a mark of ants
whether they are rebuilding mounds washed away by the rain or trying to get
into your home food supply.
Christians
would do well to learn faithful work in a world that grows more intolerant of
those who believe that Christ alone is our hope. Be ever ready to offer a
reason for your faith. (I Peter 3:13-16) A church must be a lighthouse of prayer
and spiritual intervention for its community. (I Peter 2:4-5, 9) Persevering
work that can transform a community does not happen inside church walls. The
world will make every effort to spread poison to stop the people of Christ.
Unlike the ants, however, we have the Spirit of God on our side to bring us
victory in our fight to free all men from the chains of sin.
