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Sitting out on the deck one Saturday morning, Bentley, one of our Bengal cats, jumped up on the banister and began gingerly walking along the top of the rail that is only 1.5″ wide. The ground is 14′ below. Bentley is strictly an indoor cat without any claws. We don’t like for our two cats to “tightrope” on the banister, but cats will be cats, full of curiosity and venture; it’s in their nature. We like for them to get “outside” to sunbathe, smell the fresh air, and watch the birds and squirrels. There have been only two incidents of the cats jumping off the deck.
Bentley tried to descend upon a squirrel like a hawk one day, and Lexus, our other Bengal, experienced the baptism of earth beneath her clawless feet one night unexpectedly. Since that time we don’t allow the cats on the deck after sunset. Bentley froze when he hit the ground, and we retrieved him immediately, but it took us four days to capture Lexus when she finally made that leap. Apparently, she has more Bengal wildness running through her veins. Both still get up on the banister, but neither has attempted to launch toward the ground since their baptism.
When Lexus left the safety of the deck, she had us worried and torn out of the frame. She went from living in a controlled environment, pampered, fed and watered, the run of the house, without fear of predation, and played and slept without fear. In her world there were no fleas or ticks. She was protected from the elements, petted and loved on, and she left all of that for an impulse that nearly proved disastrous!
Now she was introduced to a world that was altogether different. A world of dodging automobiles, strangers, territorial stray cats, fleas, ticks, dogs, wind and rain, heat and cold, no food, a limited water source, no cozy place to sleep in peace, no one petting on her, and worst of all, no claws to flee or fight. She was so scared and wary that she ran away from us as if she didn’t recognize us. How easily she could have remedied her situation by simply returning when called, but she ran instead. How human is that when God calls us to come back to Him -- we run. When Lexus was finally caught in a critter trap after all other attempts failed, all she did was eat, drink, and sleep for a week. She looked wasted and would have eventually met her demise had we not trapped her. God was gracious to answer our prayers to bring Lexus back to us.
When Bentley jumped up on the deck railing that morning it immediately reminded me of Lexus’ four day ordeal. Why would Bentley risk changing his world by teetering along the edge of heaven and hell? Since he was incapable of abstract thought, he just did what came natural. Lexus didn’t get it either after her ordeal; she was back up on the banister in no time. Again, how so human! With no claws to secure her footing, she negotiates the railing, running the risk of plummeting back down to a world where she is unable to survive on her own. Both Bentley and she continue to walk that narrow line clueless of the consequences of a miscalculation. How easily their nature can lead them down a dangerous and deceptive path.
We who are in Christ are in the world but not of the world (Jn 15:19; 17:14, 16). When we as believers jump up on the rail and try to teeter between heaven and hell in our thinking – one foot in “church” and one foot in the world, our old nature will naturally lead us down a deceptive and dangerous path as well. We know better than to do this, but Bentley and Lexus don’t.
When we dance on the line, whether in thought or deed, between in and of the world, we have already fallen and begin manifesting an earthy resemblance. Everything changes, and no longer are we in the world and separate; we are now a part of being in the of world, a godless world of opposite values, a world that is passing away. It is definitely not a happy place for a born again believer. Now the world will welcome your compromise at first with open arms only to eventually spew you out with an accusative finger. Thankfully, by the grace of God there is forgiveness, cleansing, and restoration by the Father through agreeing with Him about our sins and repenting from them (1 Jn 1:9). Fellowship is restored.
One word of caution is in order so as not to be misleading about true regeneration for the rail walkers. The Apostle John states,
“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked” (1 Jn 2:1-6, ESV, cf. 1 Jn 1:6).
In other words “A born again believer acts like a born again believer” (Richard Blackaby). Hanging out in the of world is not a very good indicator that one is born again. If you claim to be an apple tree, show the world your apples (Gal 5:22-23)!
The world will try to lure you up on that rail to pursue after passing things, to compromise, to convince you that you can have it both ways, but don’t do it because it is of the of world (1 Jn 2:16). What passing things might that be? Anything that would get between you and Jesus your Lord.
Now we know why God put Beverly and me through this ordeal with Lexus so we could share this experience. It would be wise to stay away from the rail. It simply doesn’t pay to abandon blessings for burdens. There is no foreverness in the of world, "but whoever does the will of God abides forever." <><
