Editor’s
journey
‘Dead’
lions
SPRINGFIELD, MO. —
Growing up, I dreamed of being the varsity quarterback of my high
school football team.
That didn’t happen.
I dreamed of being senior class
president.
That didn’t happen either.
I dreamed of straight A’s
and college scholarships.
Instead I earned my share of B’s
and had to work my way through school.
In other words, I was an average
“dog” who didn’t stand out from the crowd.
But Ecclesiastes 9:4 puts it in
perspective. It says, “A live dog is better off than a dead lion”
(NIV).
We tend to look at quarterbacks,
cheerleaders, homecoming queens and student body presidents as lion-kings
— the ones who have it all. But the truth is, unless they know Christ
they have nothing more than a short-term reign of fame.
It’s better to be an unpopular,
untalented dog who has eternal life in Jesus than a rich, talented, popular
lion who doesn’t have Christ.
God wants us to be content, to
accept who we are. Sure, some are Great Danes; others are French poodles.
We come in various shapes and sizes and have different gifts. Some receive
recognition and others don’t. But to God, we’re all beautiful.
We don’t have to throw a pass or wear a crown to earn His love. We’re
His … and He loves us just the way He created us.
So, the next time you’re
feeling inadequate or inferior, remind yourself that, if you’re a believer
in Christ, all dogs go to heaven and the roar of the lion-kings will one day
fade.
Hal Donaldson
E-mail your comments to pe@ag.org.
