Of Pearls and Swine

 Of Pearls and Swine

“ Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine. Lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.”---Matt. 7:6

    
      Like an oyster, in the deepest darkest depths of the sea, where you cannot breathe and have no control over life. In the place where there are monsters dwelling in the chaos, lurking and seeking to devour. It is in this place; in these difficult trials of life, where we learn. We grow pearls of wisdom. God has us here for His purpose.

    
      Like gritty sand, in the oyster’s body, the trials of life come and you cannot remove them. They grind and rub, and irritate as you learn to deal with it. You deal by accepting layer upon layer of truth around the grit until it forms a pearl of wisdom. You learn. You grow. You are thankful for what you have received in the deep dark times. As the Lord said, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. “

     
      However, our lives are full of swine. Beings who consume anything and everything. Beings who wallow in their own filth, never realizing what they do. They will not hear your pearls of wisdom. They will ridicule you, and destroy your precious understanding. Like swine, they delight in destroying and rending anything of real value and beauty. They sling mud and filth on every precious thing. They snort their opinions to any who would hear them.

      
     If you let them, they will destroy the dreams you have been given. They will crush the Word, placed in your heart. They will drag you down to where they are. Whether it’s a subtle comment they spout at you. Or something they were “Just Joking” about. Or perhaps that rant they always spew. Do not let them drag you down.  The words they release into the air have power. They will settle into the dark places of your mind and do their work to derail you and destroy you. The negativity will start to grow.

     
      Speak against it! Tell yourself good positive things. Remind yourself of what’s important and what matters most. Turn to God and cast out those demons. Get away from those swine, and lessen the impact they have on you. Pray for them and love them, but refuse to be dragged into their hate. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. The enemy uses any tool, including the swine he has deceived, to steal, kill and destroy you. Fight the fight of faith.

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Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois.