The Hidden Gospel in the Three Little Pigs
We live at the mouth of the Colulmbia River Gorge, where gusty days remind me of the story of the “Three Little Pigs.”
It’s not the first time I’ve resided in a windy place. Our eight years in Okinawa were peppered by powerful typhoons. We prepared by storing lawn chairs, sun umbrellas, and anything not well-buttoned down inside our porch. We parked our car as close to the leeward side of the house as possible. Storm shutters were rolled over the windows and buckets filled with extra water. Candles and our kerosene lantern were dug out of storage.
How thankful we were for our concrete block house, the usual material for buildings in typhoon alley. Many older houses built of wood, like the little pig’s domicile of sticks, had blown down over the years.
So often the physical pictures the spiritual. God speaks to us in analogies, “This is like that.” He likens a house to a person’s life: “Our bodies are like tents that we live in here on earth…” (2 Corinthians 5:1a, CEV)
Winds are unavoidable in this life. Eventually they will blow into all of our lives. We are living in troubling times. Like battering hurricanes, fear, despair, and loneliness hammer against our homes and hearts. What can we do? Where can we run?
What we do when the storms sweep in is vital. Left to ourselves, our choices generally range from denial to despair. Without the wisdom of our Divine Architect, our solutions are mere cardboard shanties, houses built from straw and sticks–leaving us exposed to immense difficulties.
How vital it is to build our house, our life, on a firm, secure foundation–something that will withstand the tempests and temptations of the big, bad wolf–aka the Devil.
For those who have surrendered the controls of their lives to God, the Lord Jesus is not only their Savior, but their older brother. He joyfully opens the door when we cry out to Him. Entrance into His provision gives the stalwart, solid home we, his younger brothers and sisters, need.
“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” (Proverbs 18:10, ESV)
“...fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10, ESV)
"But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” (2 Thessalonians 3:3, ESV)
(Just for fun, click on this link to hear the story of the three little pigs in Shakespearean English: