Why I Hate Cats

My wife and I used to own a cat. I inherited the cat when I married my wife. The cat and I never really took to each other. I always felt as if the cat never really liked me. Maybe that's because cats are smart and she knew I didn't like her so she was just returning the favor. I don't know what it is about cats. Maybe it is the smell of the litterbox, or their arrogance, or their perceived independance. I just don't like them that much. I also think my prejudice probably comes from that fact that I believe that cats are always planning. I think that when they are sitting in the window sill and won't take their eyes off you that they are planning. They are planning how they might stalk you and take you down. I think they understand that if they were just a little bit bigger that you would be food rather than a caretaker.

This is what sin is like. Yes, sin is like cats. It is pretty, fluffy, attractive, lying around in wait, purring, looking innocent...but yet just under the surface is a ferocity, a stench, an arrogance and disloyalty. My wife and I were watching a "scary animals" video when we saw an incredible sight. Some tourists were in India on vacation filming one of the Bengal tigers. It was a huge cat that was very pretty. Everyone on the tape was admiring this gigantic cat. The cat looked innocent enough as it stood there proudly among the admiring crowd. But all of the sudden in an instant, the cat went from a beautiful sight to a terrifying entity. When the tape was slowed down you could observe a magnificent transformation as the cat went from docile to killer machine as it charged its prey--the tourist bus.

Words cannot explain the picture of this tiger as every muscle was flexed, every tooth was bared and every hair standing on end. This was a picture of sin. Sin is teasing, beautiful, fluffy, purring, cuddly and attractive. Some times we stand in awe of what sin offers. But in an instant it becomes our worst enemy, looking to destroy us.

This is the danger that lies in the regenerate person. The flesh in the Christian has been dealt its final death blow. The flesh is dying yet always recoiling and gathering its forces to pounce when we least expect it. The flesh no longer has dominion over us yet it is still struggling to live. The flesh will never have complete victory but will win battles from time to time. When we place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ the battle has just begun. Now there is a real war going on. That is why we can echo Paul's words when he says, "I know there is nothing good that lives in me, that is in my sinful nature." AND we can also say, "I have been crucified with Christ and no longer live, but Christ lives in me. This life I live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me."

There is one nature in the Christian--the Spirit born nature. But the principle of sin still infiltrates throughout as it dies its slow death. One day, when either Christ returns or you go home to be with the Lord you will finally realize the promise from Romans 8:30, "Those he predestined he also called, those he called he also justified and those he justified he also glorified." Ah, let the day come quickly.