The Hare and the Tortoise
Rabbit vs. Turtle / Lie vs. Truth
Scripture Reference: Titus 1:1-3 (KJV)
Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; 2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; 3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
Have you ever noticed how much faster a lie can travel than the truth
I believe that it is because of the overwhelming advantage of speed that a lie has over the truth is why there are so many people deceived into accepting a lie even though they know that it is a lie
People sit back and wait and search and dig for any type of lies that they can spread while the truth seems boring and ineffective
If I were to line a lie up against the truth at a starting line and asked which would you vote on to win the race you would probably laugh at me for even thinking that the truth had an outside chance of coming anywhere close to beating the lie
I must admit that there are races in my life that a quick lie here and there seems to be all that it would take to get me to the finish line a little faster
When I first heard of this race I always heard of it being the rabbit vs. turtle. However as I matured this raced turned into the Tortoise vs. Hare. I was told that these were just two different names for the same animals. However being the type of nosy guy I am I had to investigate this further for myself.
Let’s first look at the Tortoise:
Tortoise - Usually herbivorous land turtles having clawed elephant-like limbs; worldwide in arid area except Australia and Antarctica
Just looking at the description of this animal we can come up with certain conclusions
1. Usually herbivorous - whether we want to admit or not this is a good diet. In fact, this is the original diet set for us to eat from God. (Genesis 1:29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.) So we see here that this creature eats what he is supposed to eat (truth) and any dietician will confirm that you are what you eat.
2. Land turtles - This means it doesn’t do something and fly away to escape the blame or go underwater where it can really never be found to see what happened. God ordered man to subdue (Hold within limits and control) the earth and to have dominion (Dominance or power through legal authority) over the sea and air (Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.)
3. Having clawed elephant-like limbs - This describes his ability and will to not just accept but to hold on to the truth. His claws - (A mechanical device that is curved or bent to suspend or hold or pull something) represent the part that applies a strong hold and his elephant-like features represent his very thick skin. We have to realize that in order to hold on to the truth people will talk about us harshly so we really need to have thick skin.
4. Worldwide in arid area - By the tortoise existing in arid (Lacking vitality or spirit; lifeless) areas this should be a warning to anyone that wants to stand for truth. Don’t expect to be popular. People will seem like they don’t like you or don’t want to be around you but that will only be an illusion. Actually you will find that you would rather be alone than to subject yourself to the torture of the deceit. I for one am not an animal fanatic like some of my friends that have dogs, cats, snakes, gerbils, etc. However I always feel that I can tolerate a tortoise in my area. They are not all cute and cuddly but they never seem to pose a threat, they are not noisy, stinky, messy. They just are so easy to tolerate.
4. Except in Antarctica (An extremely cold continent at the south pole almost entirely below the Antarctic Circle; covered by an ice cap up to 13,000 feet deep) and Australia - even though Australia has a desert area the tortoise simply chooses not to live in these two areas naturally. This is how the truth is. It does not go everywhere, not that it can’t but it simply chooses not to.
Now let’s take a look at the hare:
Hare - Swift timid long-eared mammal larger than a rabbit having a divided upper lip and long hind legs; young born furred and with open eyes
1. Swift - to move very fast. This can sometimes represent strength, skill, understanding or wisdom but Solomon declares in (Ecclesiates 9:11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.)
2. Timid - people who are fearful or cautious. (Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.) To fear the Lord is truly a marvelous thing but to fear anything else besides Him would be foolish. (Psalms 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.)
3. Long-eared - (James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: )
Little Red Riding Hood: “My what big ears you have“
Hungry Wolf: “the better to hear you with”
-Little Red Riding Hood.
In my opinion, the most important sense that a thief would need to have in order to be successful is the ability to hear. Have you ever noticed that when you are somewhere doing something that you have no business you are listening more careful than ever? A good soldier always sets up a good LP (listening point).
You can normally hear danger before you see or smell it. A watchdog uses it’s ears to hear it’s surroundings more than anything else. Though there are times when it is more necessary to watch, an everyday event as simple as the sun setting can limit your sight capabilities drastically, while the hearing capabilities remain at peak.
One thing for sure, the hare knows that he is a meal for many animals so he has to be extra careful to hear everything around him at all times.
This is similar to a constant liar. He knows that he can be found out at anytime so he has to be extra careful to hear everything around him at all times so that in the case of danger he can make a quick getaway. This causes extra stress.
4. Divided upper-lip - this is interesting because one of the main things that a liar is known for is being two-faced, or a double talker. The bible says that a double minded man is unstable in all of his ways (James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.).
Note: I am in no way saying that because I used these two animals that one represents a liar and the other represents the truth however I am simply using their characteristics to make a point.
As we set our two opponents up to race and gather all votes the votes for the hare to win are up by a landslide. None of the voters have even considered that the hare is so confident that he has not even thought to look and see where the finish line is. Once the race starts he is going to do what he does best and that is run. He doesn’t have a specific place that he is going to run all he is going to do is run. The turtle on the other hand has practiced his route and he knows exactly where he has to go when the race starts. He knows that all he has to do is make it the oak tree turn left and there will sit the finish line. In his mind he is sure that he will win the race and shock the world.
CONCLUSION
This is a perfect example of how the truth works against a lie. It knows the route and it is sure that it will win so no matter how persuasive the lie is when it is told, in the end, the truth will win the race and the world will be shocked.
Saints we must hold on to the truth
Let’s pray
Thank You. May God continue to bless you and keep you. Amen
Your Friend
Minister Juan D. Lane Sr.
