I recently read a parable about an old man who used to meditate each day by the Ganges River in India. One morning he saw a scorpion floating on the water. When the scorpion drifted near the old man he reached to rescue it but was stung by the scorpion. A bit later he tried again and was stung again, the bite swelling his hand painfully and giving him much pain. Another man passing by saw what was happening and yelled at the mediator, “Hey, stupid old man, what’s wrong with you? Only a fool would risk his life for sake of an ugly, evil creature. Don’t you know you could kill yourself trying to save that ungrateful scorpion?”

The old man calmly replied, “My friend, just because it is in the scorpion’s nature to sting, does not change my nature to save.”

It is in God’s nature to save – because it is in God’s nature to love. God seeks the lost, heals the wounded, forgives the offender, and gives hope to those who are in despair. But too many today are like the scorpion – they refuse God’s help. Most refuse the saving and helpful hand of the Lord. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Lk. 19:10). “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mk. 10:45).

Will you respond to the reached out hand of the Lord in obedience, or will you “kick against the pricks” (Acts 9:5)? My friends, it is time that we all obediently submit ourselves to God (Jam. 4:7).

Think About It!