I remember, as a child, watching the Road Runner Cartoon. I loved the devious road runner who outsmarted every move that Wile E. Coyote used to trap him. With a sly look and a beep-beep, the roadrunner would sidestep the devious plans of the Coyote and continue on its journey.
Recently I was in Arizona, and we spotted a roadrunner. Just for the record, it looked nothing like my cartoon image! But this swift bird quickly disappeared and continued on its way.
One of the capabilities that the Lord gave to the Road Runner is to run. Why? Because the roadrunner cannot fly long distances. Therefore, God gave it the ability to run.
Although we are created to soar on Eagles' wings (see Isaiah 40:31), God has also given us the ability to run. When was the last time you took a run, and as you were gasping for breath, asked God to help you run with perseverance? I love what Hebrews 12:1-3 says in The Passion Translation.
1 As for us, we have all of these great witnesses who encircle us like clouds. So, we must let go of every wound that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into. Then we will be able to run life's marathon race with passion and determination, for the path has been already marked out before us.
2 We look away from the natural realm, and we focus our attention and expectation onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith's perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!
3 So consider carefully how Jesus faced such intense opposition from sinners who opposed their own souls, so that you won't become worn down and cave in under life's pressures.<1>
The roadrunner could not get caught up in the Coyote's schemes any more than we can get caught up in the systems of man or the demonic. Just as the Coyote was adept at setting traps to slow down the roadrunner, so we have forces working against us being able to run with speed and perseverance. Anything that we get caught up in that does not align with the Kingdom of Heaven becomes a weight that holds us back.
We keep our eye on the finish line. Not only that, but we need to expect that we will finish the race.
Another interesting lesson from the roadrunner is their snake-killing ability. A roadrunner will eat just about anything it finds on the ground. If the roadrunner sets its eye on a snake, they will often team up with another roadrunner to kill the snake. Usually, when we get defeated by the demonic, we either do not know our authority, or we are trying to do it alone.
Taking it a step further, the writer of Ecclesiastes<2> reminds us of the power of walking with someone. When I think of the roadrunner vs. the rattlesnake, I think of verse 12, which reads, "And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him- a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
Lessons from a Roadrunner:
Know your enemy
Know the schemes of the enemy
Know when to run
Know when to grab a brother or sister in Christ to defeat the "snake."
It never ceases to amaze me how God can speak to us through nature. He is infinitely more creative than we realize. He created birds that majestically soar, such as an Eagle. He also made this funny bird with long legs, the ability to run, and team up to kill a snake.
One other point about the roadrunner; a snake's venom can kill them. However, when two roadrunners team up against that snake, they are victorious.
So, with that, I am off and running, and that old Coyote cannot stop me!
Beep-Beep
<1> Hebrews 12:1-3. The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017, 2018, 2020 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Thepassiontranslation.com.
<2> See Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
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