God's Seal

I wasn't quite sure what to expect at a "Seal Release," as I am not a huge marine animal activist nor do I pay any attention to animal rescues. I think my sensitive nature demands a disconnect when it comes to animals because I get so easily attached and emotionally drained. (I struggle with this tendency with people, too!) But when my eldest daughter asked to go to see a rescued seal release, having learned about it through a visit to the local aquarium, it was hard to turn her down. It was free, not to far away, and something educational. I had no idea there would also be a spiritual component to the whole experience. Let me show you, as pictures tell a thousand words.

Meet Lucifer. Yes, a terrible name for a seal, but apparently it describes his personality. He was brought down to the beach in a dog crate, which was opened on the sand about 15 feet from the water. Apparently gray seals can be a bit aggressive as well as resistant to being returned to their natural environment. Instead of heading to the water, they often head toward the onlookers or run down the beach. The red boards are meant for protection.

Lucifer wasn't at all keen about coming out of the crate. He cowered long enough to make me wonder if we'd be there through lunch and dinner. I knew how he felt. I often want to stay in the familiarity of captivity rather than experience the freedom of the unknown.

Slowly, he made his way fully out of the crate, looking around at the two dozen spectators. We were all very excited, until Lucifer turned completely around, heading right back to his crate. The wise handler already had it shut. She had done this thing before and was well prepared for Lucifer to return to the comforts of his recent home.

Returning was not an option. He caught on quick, turned back around, weaved back and forth on the beach, before finally entering the water. The irony is he kept looking back. It reminded me of Lot's wife, although Lucifer wasn't turned to a pillar of salt. You should have seen the look in his eye. They pierced my heart. What a lost soul!

How often I want to look back, head into the comforts of my familiar past, instead of pressing forward toward the great wide open experience before me. For Lucifer the seal, the confines of a crate felt more secure than the freedom of an ocean. But his handlers knew his life was destined for the ocean blue, like my Handler knows my life is created to serve set free in Christ, not held captive by my past. I am marked by God's seal, the blood of Christ. With that comes a future of freedom and purpose, not captivity.

Are you sealed by God? Are you living like that? Or are you still sticking close to the crate of captivity and sin?

God's timing is always perfect. This morning, I received this very appropriately named devotional from Anne Graham Lotz. Enjoy!

God's Seal
by Anne Graham Lotz

If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
Romans 8:9, NKJV

In the Garden of Eden, God had been with man.
In the Old Testament, God had appeared to man.
In the Tabernacle, God had dwelt among men.
In the history of Israel, God had spoken through man.
In the Gospels, God was visible as Man.
But at Pentecost, God became available to dwell in man!

Until that Pentecost two thousand years ago, people were saved by faith in Jesus Christ, even though they didn't know His Name. Their faith was demonstrated by the obedient sacrifices they made at the temple as they symbolically looked forward to the cross. Since Pentecost, we are still saved by faith in Jesus Christ. But our faith looks back to His sacrifice, which has already been made on our behalf at the cross. Additionally, we now have the experience of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Who seals our "rebirth," or "conversion." Do you bear God's "Seal" of authentic conversion?

from the AnGeL Ministries Website
For more about The Joy of My Heart

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