Racing cheetahs and plodding elephants:

Life has been compared to a race, but the allusion improves by observing, that the most swift are usually the least manageable and the most likely to stray from the course. Oliver Goldsmith

 

The continent of Africa, rich in natural beauty and abundant wildlife is home to many unusual

animals. There are two mammals that are so widely different, that one could be forgiven for wondering if the same Creator designed them both.

The cheetah is a cat truly built for speed! Virtually every part of its body is designed in some way to maximize running speed. Special paw pads and non-retractable claws provide great traction. A long, fluid, greyhound-like body is streamlined over light bones. Small collarbones and vertical shoulder blades help lengthen the stride.

The cheetah’s spine works as a spring for the powerful back legs to give the cheetah added reach for each step. But this spring-like movement is very taxing physiologically. This fast cat’s top speed, 71 miles per hour (114 kilometers per hour); can usually be maintained for only 200-300 yards. (180- 274 meters) A cheetah has a relatively small heart and tires very easily.  

The elephant, on the other hand can manage a short charge with a top speed of about 25 miles per hour (40 kilometers per hour) but a herd usually moves at a leisurely 4 mph. Some herds travel

thousands of miles over a year as they migrate in search of good grazing and fresh water. Unlike the cheetah, an elephant cannot run more than a few yards, but they are great swimmers, using their extended trunks like a periscope in deep water.

Cheetahs are carnivorous and must kill every few days, but because they cannot run at speed for very long, they lose more prey than they catch. An elephant usually chews its way through 550 pounds (250 kilograms) of fodder every day, and it doing so produces about 2000 liters (400 gallons) of methane gas per day! Be very careful about standing “down-wind” of any wandering elephants. A seven ton elephant can live 60 or 70 years, whereas cheetahs are old at 10 years of age, and seldom live more than 12 years.

Wise old Solomon may well have had these two extreme opposites in mind when he wrote these words…  “I returned and saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happens to them all.” Ecclesiastics 9:11 

Over the years I seen many people with “bucket loads” of talent and natural ability enter into church life and their meteoric rise “thru the ranks” has left heads spinning…. and wondering! Then the almost inevitable fall has come at a great price, and left the wiser amongst the congregation bemoaning the lack of foundations (once again).    

Talent without maturity may be OK in the world of entertainment or music, but in the “up-side-down” kingdom in which we serve our Lord, maturity and character outweighs any natural gifting or capacity. 

Our Lord is not so much interested in our gifts, and what we think we can bring to His altar; He is however, keenly interested in our availability and willingness to serve.

Jesus said to the rich young man who met all of the “qualifications” to get into heaven… “Go, sell whatever you have and give it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in Heaven. And come, take up the cross and follow Me.” As we all know, this man went away from our Lord’s presence, and ultimately to a Christ-less eternity, simply because he was unwilling to sell all.       

Sadly, as many have found out, when talent and ability reach their zenith, those who have built on inadequate foundations will stumble and fall.

In the LORD put I my trust: How say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?  For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.   If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?  The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.  Psalm. 11:1-4 KJV



Millions have begun their race, with a blazing pace like the cheetah, only to find that they cannot complete it. Far better to be like the plodding elephant….

I have fought the good fight; I have finished the course [or, race]; I have kept the faith. Finally, [there] is laid up for me the victor's wreath [or, crown] of righteousness which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, will give to me in that Day, but not only to me, but also to all the ones having loved His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 ALT.

 

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