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The Persistent Coyote

By Pastor Eric

One of my favorite memories of growing up was getting up early on Saturday morning, grabbing a bowl of Cheerios, and sitting as close as I could to the television to watch Saturday morning cartoons. 

There were no better cartoons to watch on Saturday morning than Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes. Your weekend couldn’t even begin until you watched the antics of Bugs, Daffey, and Porky Pig. One of my favorite characters was Wile E. Coyote. I was fascinated: watching him chase the Road Runner down over and over again with no giving up. Wile E. Coyote used every trick in the book, every tool offered by the great company of ACME, he would even put his own body at risk to get close to the Road Runner. Time and time again, fall after fall, Coyote did whatever it took to catch the prize. He was focused, he was passionate, he was hungry, and there was no quit in that guy….he never gave up! 

As I think about the coyote and his unstoppable desire to catch the Road Runner, I can’t help but relate this to my relationship with Jesus. Is my love for Jesus that focused? Is my desire to live for my savior filled with that much passion? Am I hungry enough to be near Jesus that I will do whatever it takes to touch the hem of his robe? HOW ABOUT YOU?

Do you have a hard time focusing on Jesus? Is the deafening sound of the world keeping you from a passionate desire to be in God’s Word and in prayer? “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” Colossians 3:1. Change your focus! Put down the noise and glow of this world and draw close to our God through his Word and through constant prayer. Set your heart and mind on him who has given you life, who has freed you from the prison of your own undoing. Love with all your heart the God who has loved you first, who loves you unconditionally in all things and in all places! 

Do you find it difficult to live out everyday for our Savior? Welcome to the club…..it’s difficult for all of us and we will always fall short! But, that does not give us a reason to give up! Out of our deep, deep love for Jesus and the life he has given to us through his own sacrifice, we should be driven to run a race of endurance and perseverance. Because of the blood poured out  for you and for the tears shed in heaven on your behalf, run a race that is worthy of the love and grace given to you. God didn’t give up on you!!! “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” Galatians 2:20. 

Are you hungry? Do you have a desire to know and be close to our savior Jesus Christ, to hear his voice, to feel his presence, to be filled with the joy that can only come through him? ME TOO!! When the world leaves us empty and without answers (which it will), when the world lets us down (which it will), and when the people of the world disappoint us (which they will)…it will leave an empty place in our hearts that needs to be filled, a HUNGER for something more, something that will satisfy! Jesus wants us to be filled with him, to have a craving and desire for him. Brothers and sisters, acknowledge your need for spiritual food that can only come from God, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God” Luke 4:4. Pursue God with a hunger that can only be satisfied by the life-given bread and living water of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Be filled and satisfied with the manna from Heaven! “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” Matthew 5:6.

As we move about this lifetime, seek out Jesus with the focus, the passion, and the hunger of Wile E. Coyote. Seek God out in all things, with the help of the Spirit, with a “never quit at any cost” mindset. And, may we proclaim, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer” Psalm 19:14.

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