My close neighbour has four cross-Rottweiler dogs. These predators have discovered our smallholding as a source of many delights.
They have killed and eaten piglets, geese and chickens. Each night, after forcing their way through our mutual fence, they then dig under other fences to get at the livestock. We now have to ensure that all animals are safely locked in rooms with strong doors every night. That still doesn’t stop them forcing their way through our barriers. Each morning our staff members patch up the damage that has been done the night before. We regularly have to buy more fencing or barbed wire.
The owner of the dogs has strengthened his fence and offered to chain up the dog that he feels leads the foraging expeditions. This has not deterred them with their bloodlust.
We decided that it was useless to go on repairing damage in our yard; instead we spent all our efforts in stopping the problem at the source. We went to our neighbour’s fence and strengthened it to the point that it has stopped the dogs from getting out and this has solved the problem.
We read in Romans 7 about the battle the apostle Paul had with constantly doing things he knew were wrong, which he called sins. Eventually he found that it was better to solve the problem at the source. Through turning to Christ in repentance and belief, he was given a new nature empowered by the Holy Spirit. He wrote: “Through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death”. And later: “If you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body you will live, because those who live by the Spirit of God are sons of God”. Romans 8:2,13,14. We don’t have to battle with the results of a sinful nature, if we allow God to treat the cause.
