Frolicking Squirrels

Did you know that squirrels like to play tag? When the poplar trees behind my house stand tall and barren of leaves, I can see far into the bush. One day I spied four black squirrels frolicking by jumping from thin branch to thin branch. Weighed down by the squirrels, the branches bobbed up and down in the cool spring air. Those squirrels appeared to enjoy playing with each other.

Just as squirrels take time to revel in each other’s company, God expects believers to enjoy spending time with him in prayer and Bible study. The Westminster Confession states that the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. John Piper prefers to say that the chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever.

Let us show our enjoyment of God by praising him for sending his Son to this sin-filled earth. Let us fill our hearts with rejoicing that Jesus did not stay dead. Instead Jesus rose from the grave victorious. Now he is busy gathering a people, redeemed by his blood, to be the future residents of a new heaven and a new earth. Satan will never be able to ruin that earth the way he has this one.

These past seven months I have been suffering a constant low-grade pain in one of my eyes. Nevertheless I have joy in my heart, which sickness cannot quench. As a hymn by Luther B. Bridgers states, “There’s within my heart a melody Jesus whispers sweet and low, “Fear not, I am with thee—peace be still.” That is why I can sing the chorus: “I have the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart—down in my heart today.”