The Polar Bear is a huge part of the Arctic Circle eco system and it's ability to adapt to cold conditions is remarkable. Although most polar bears are born on land, they spend most of their time on the sea ice. Their scientific name means "maritime bear", and derives from this fact. Polar bears hunt their preferred food of seals from the edge of sea ice, often living off fat reserves when no sea ice is present. Because of their dependence on the sea ice, polar bears are classified as marine mammals. If you have ever seen sea ice you will quickly notice it is floating ice that is pressed together by the large pieces of ice being compressed into a smaller area, thus causing the ice to look like it is attached....but it isn't. If the sea ice has even the slightest bit of the pressure relieved when you step on one side the ice will tip, throwing you into the icy cold waters below. We might call this precarious footing for those polar bears who exist from preying on the animals that live below that ice.
Precarious footing is a good example of what it takes to make a stand for anything in these apathetic days of our world. If you state a truth that is different than a social standing opinion, you will stand the chance of getting chastised by those who don't want to hear the truth. Jack Nicholson said it well in the movie "A Few Good Men" where he stated "you can't handle the truth." That really is the truth. Most people cannot handle the truth, i.e. God's Word in most situations. It is usually too radical and straightforward for our weakened digestive system to handle, thus causing a problem for the one stating the truth.
In discussion of truth with friends and family from time to time I will share a very inconvenient truth that most don't want to hear and especially hear from me. To which, I get the old bail out move, where they say, "I think you are bipolar." Now it seems everyone is a psychiatrist!! I don't like what you say and how you say it so you are bipolar. Yep, that's it!! And they think "that should shut you up!" But does it? NOPE! When living as children of light, we shed that light whether it is the acceptable thing to do or not. But then that makes you a bipolar bear in people's minds. Here is what Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:22-27
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
26 "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
27 and do not give the devil a foothold. Earlier in the letter Paul cautions those in that church to make sure they don't live like those who are of their liberal mindset because their thinking is futile. What does God think about all this? In Psalm 94:11 the Psalmist wrote The Lord know the thoughts of man; he know that they are futile." Just when we think we have this whole thing figured out we see there is a basic core truth that upsets our apple cart. We have to learn to adapt to keep on living. The bear is used to hunting on sea ice, but when there is no sea ice he adapts to be able to keep alive by hunting on dry ground. Part of the bear's adapting is making sure he has enough fat stored to handle the lean months. The key is, he is open to adapting to changing conditions. If you put a north pole bear on the south pole, he will adapt and still do what he was made to do to live. He doesn't avoid the hunting on dry ground and die. He adapts and learns to handle things wherever he may be. He is a bipolar bear!! The problem we have in our pc society, even as Christians, is we cannot speak truth without being labeled as bipolar or strange. I get it all the time because my mouth speaks more than it should. I have closet psychiatrists trying to analyze me all the time, when all I am doing is taking a stand "firmly" for what I believe to be true. I will do it wherever I am making me a bipolar bear, not a bipolar weakling. Early in Chapter 4 of Ephesians Paul designates who he is by saying"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." So the question for you is this. Are you able to adapt and keep speaking the uncomfortable truth in a world that thinks you are crazy or "mental" when you do it? If you are not able to adapt and keep speaking your convictions, then you will eventually die, like those who have given up hunting for the truth who gave up long ago. My admonishment to you is this: "Stand strong and be the bear God has called you to be." Even in the face of being called crazy...G.K. Chesterton writes. There are an infinity of angles at which one falls, only one at which one stands. Make sure you choose the right angle.... God's angle.
The Pilgrimage continues...
David Warren
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