"Safe in the Shark Tank"

“Safe in the Shark Tank”

(These thoughts were prompted by an Our Daily Bread devotional for June 29, 2019. The article grew out of discussing the applications with Karen.)

During our almost twenty years in Manchester NH Karen and I made three trips to the New England Aquarium in Boston. While we found all the exhibits interesting we were always partial to the penguins as they strutted and swam in their enclosure. (The web site says there are about sixty current residents.) I’m not aware of any other creatures like them but this shouldn’t be surprising. In Genesis 1 (KJV) the phrase “after his/her kind” appears ten times in the account of God’s creation of plants and animals, suggesting that each is unique in its own way.

One of the Aquarium’s most prominent features is a four story cylindrical tank containing many species of fish, including sharks. Since sharks are known for their savagery we wondered why they appeared to be living in harmony with their tankmates so we asked a staff member to explain. The answer was simple: “We feed them well.” Since their appetites were satisfied there was no need to dine on their neighbors.

As we reminisced about our visits we saw some parallels with God’s workings in our lives. When we’re lacking in the qualities of godliness we can easily attack our fellow believers, The Apostle Paul issues a stern warning about the dangers of such conduct: “If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” (Galatians 5:15). But when we allow God to fill us with His presence, truth, love and Spirit we won’t lash out because our inmost needs have been satisfied (“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him….”—2 Peter 1:3). Which is the better way to live?

Our friend Paul has outlined principles of what J.B. Phillips calls “real Christian behavior” in Romans 12:9-21. Tucked in among these guidelines is one of the most practical and realistic statements in God’s Word: “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Verse 18, emphasis added). All of us have likely encountered someone (maybe several someones) with whom living in accord is difficult if not impossible. The Apostle’s counsel is that we not allow any breach in fellowship to be our responsibility but “Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.” (1 Thessalonians 5:15). As we put this into practice we can be safe in the shark tank of daily life.

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan