Left Behind

My husband, a pastor, was recently transferred to a new church, so our family moved to a new town. It was again time to make new acquaintances and get used to our new surroundings. One day our neighbors across the street came over to welcome us to the neighborhood. I noticed a beautiful orange tiger cat sitting in their driveway and asked them what its name was. “Oh, he’s not our cat,” they said, “but we call him Cammie. Some years ago, the cat’s owners moved from the neighborhood and simply left him behind.” I love animals and felt sorry for him, so I decided I would befriend and feed Cammie. I started feeding Cammie every day.

Soon he allowed me to pet him as he ate.

One exceptionally cold morning, Cammie met me at the door and tried to get into the house. I longed to let him inside so that he could get warm, but I was afraid that once he got in, he wouldn’t really be happy. He’s used to having his freedom outside and would probably find living in a house to be too restrictive.

Though he thinks he wants to be inside, he has really become a wild cat and won’t even let me pick him up. Cammie would not understand my rules about not scratching the furniture or getting on tables.

No, I’m afraid he wouldn’t fit in, especially since I have a fourteen-year-old cat that is already established with us. Having Cammie inside the house would destroy both our peace and his. This situation reminded me of how Jesus longs to let all the people He has created into heaven. In fact, He tells us in 1 Timothy 2:4 that our Savior “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (NKJV).

The problem is, if they don’t let Jesus change them first, they will not be happy there. Not only would they find it impossible to fit in, their presence would destroy the peace of those around them. Just as we couldn’t let Cammie into our house because he wouldn’t change to fit in, Jesus can’t allow into heaven sinners who refuse to change. Sadly, He must leave them outside the heavenly gates and on this earth.

May each one of us confess our sins, accept Jesus’ gift of salvation, and allow His Spirit to change us now so that we won’t be left behind when He comes.

Christa White Schiffbauer