The
Raven and the Dove
By
Les Feldick
Paul tells us to go back to the Old Testament, not for our doctrine but for our learning and our hope, so we can trust God. Romans 15:4 - For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Back in Genesis 8, at the end of Noah's flood, the whole planet was covered with water. All creatures lost their lives and many were floating on the water. The water was covered with rotting and decomposing creatures.
As the water receded, the ark rested on Mount Ararat. After Noah saw the tops of the mountains, he waited 40 days. Then he opened the window of the ark and sent out a raven. The raven is a scavenger and had no trouble finding rest and food. He was right at home and satisfied with the rotten and decaying creatures. The raven did not go back to the ark.
Then Noah sent out a dove, which is timid, nonaggressive, and beautiful. The dove would not sit on the dead creatures and found no rest so it came back to the ark. Noah waited seven more days and sent the dove out again. The dove again returned to the ark, but this time it brought back an olive leaf. Noah knew the worst was over.
Now let's go to the New Testament and see what is written for us today. Galatians 5:16 states "walk in the spirit and you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh''.
Believers have two natures. The old nature, which we are born with, and the new nature made by the indwelling within us of the Holy Spirit. These two natures war with one another. It is a battle within all believers. We are all tempted by the lust of the flesh and there is constant daily warfare in our Christian walk. We have evil thoughts that run through our subconscious mind that we cannot stop, and we are not guilty if we let them fly through, but we are guilty if we take action on those thoughts.
Like the raven, people are satisfied with taking part in the trash and rot that is in this world. "They go along to get along".
Galatians 5:19-21 identifies these things: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, revellings. Society tells us to drink but don't drive. Drunkenness is next to murder as it causes accidents, broken homes and fills our jails and ruins lives. Hatred is the opposite of God's greatest command, which is love. Look at the damage that hatred can cause. Moral sins are still sin in God's eyes, yet society has made them ''the norm''. All these things all are just a few of the raven's appetite. If these things are part of your life, make sure of your salvation. Believers fail, but they will not continue with raven food. Those that do continue in those things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. [Galatians 5:21]
The lifestyle characteristics of the dove can be found in Galatians 5:22-26. The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the spirit, let us also walk in the spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. The Holy Spirit in us gives us power.
Ask yourself - ''Am I living on raven food, feasting on the rot of the world?'' As you watch TV, is it Raven food or Dove food? [90% of TV is Raven food] Are your relations, your actions, your entertainment raven food or dove food?
How about your salvation? Are you going to heaven? Do you believe that Christ paid for all of your sins on the cross? Do you believe that Christ died for your sins, was buried, and arose the third day? [l Corinthians 15:1-4]
From now on, examine all you do. Is it raven or dove?
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