Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Jewel # 166 (Feb 19, 2014)

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To my dear grandchildren,

The Ant Lion

“Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about,
seeking whom he may devour.”
(1 Peter 5:8)

The ant lion looks like a large dragonfly when fully grown.  The name “ant lion” comes from its activity in its larval stage.  As a larva, it eats mostly ants.  An ant caught in its jaws will not be able to escape, because the ant lion has strong jaws, which are the largest part of its body.

The ant lion has an interesting way of catching ants.  It digs a cone shaped pit about two inches deep in sand or loose soil.  It buries itself at the bottom of the pit, leaving only its jaws and part of its head exposed.

An ant coming to this pit is curious and goes to the edge to look inside.  On the rim it loses its footing in the loose sand and falls down the steep side.  It tries to climb back up the sides many times, but the surface is too loose and it finally slides to the bottom.  The ant lion quickly grabs it in its sickle-shaped jaws and eats it.  The ant lion sometimes attracts ants to the pit by throwing sand or little pieces of gravel into the air.  Ant lions are covered in stiff bristles that help them stay in the sand.

We might wonder how this little creature knows how to build its trap and how to attract its victims.  The larva knows how to do this just as soon as it hatches, without having had a lesson.  This is another example of an instinct given by the Creator to enable His creatures to survive through immature periods of their lives.

The ant lion’s methods remind us of our great enemy, Satan, who has many traps set to catch us.  One of these is a natural curiosity on our part to want to explore things of the world that only lead to sin and unhappiness.  The Bible tells us that Satan is the god of this world, and we can never stand up against him in our own power.

However, there is One who is mightier than Satan, the Saviour of all who trust in Him.  “Greater is He that is in you, that he that is in the world:" (1 John 4:4).  He has provided an armour that allows us to stand against this wicked enemy.  Those who know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour are urged to “put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”  This armour includes the “shield of faith,“ the “helmet of salvation,” and the “sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” (See Ephesians 6:11-17.) 

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you are a servant to sin and Satan.  You can escape from his trap only by turning to Christ, confessing that you are a sinner, and accepting Him as your Lord and Saviour.  You will find Him ready and able to release you from Satan’s grasp.

Love you all,
Grandpa  

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