“Do not be afraid of what you are
about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test
you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the
point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.”—Revelation 2:10
(KJV)
Is it
possible for the little guy to win? Does the outnumbered giant ever succeed? Can
a disrespected person ever move beyond his tormenters? Yes, yes, and yes. Let’s
look at some cases:
A Biblical Example
The Apostle
Paul was a Pharisee who converted to Christianity. I Corinthians 11:28-29 gives
us the short list of what he endured:
- Violence
- Persecution
- Hunger and
thirst
- Robbery
- Imprisonment
- Being
shipwrecked
He didn’t
let any of this stop him. Paul wrote one-half to two-thirds of the New
Testament, depending on the source. We know that some of it was actually
written during his imprisonment.
“Animals Gone Wild” (National
Geographic Wild Channel)
The Grizzly Bear and the Wolves
Grizzlies
are at the top of the predator chart. I’m sure most animals are unwilling to
mess with them. However, a pack of five or six wolves took the job on. When a
grizzly aggressively tried to join in their dinner of freshly killed meat, the
animals snarled and chased him away. They also began nipping at him.
But, wait! The
grizzly didn’t get the memo that “No” means “No”. The larger animal came back
for more. This time, the wolves were so impressed by his persistence, they
allowed him to peacefully share their meal.
The Millipede and the Blue Ants
Hundreds of
hungry blue ants in Cambodia started attacking a six-inch long millipede. Talk
about David and Goliath! For some time, the millipede was able to defend
himself by curling up in a ball. That’s because the animal has an exoskeleton
(an outer skeleton) that seems impenetrable.
Please keep
in mind another defense mechanism: the ability to secrete chemical weapons
(acids) from their exoskeletons. Some sources say the animals can even spray the chemicals. These chemicals can
burn, and cause allergic reactions in, humans. I can’t imagine their effect on
ants.That’s three
strikes against the tiny animals:
- Small size
- Exoskeleton
of the millipede
- Chemical
weapons of the other animal
Who do you think won? The ants. One
ant found a chink in the exoskeleton. He gave the animal a paralyzing sting.
His friends entered the attack. The ants eventually carried the millipede back
to their home for dinner.
“High Hopes”
Speaking of
ants, Frank Sinatra made this cute, simple song
famous decades ago. It tells the story of an ant that brings a rubber-tree
plant down little by little. It also mentions a ram that batters a dam down.
My Conclusion
Are you an
ant in a world of bigger, stronger animals? Are you a grizzly bear who’s
seriously outnumbered? Are you undervalued and/or bullied? Join the club…I
mean, never fear, persistence often wins the prize in the end.
In any case, it’s certain that giving
up wins a person NO prizes.
Related Posts
What victories has persevering
brought you?
