My father, who has been out in India, told us a true story of a tiger, which I think you would like to hear. A man who lived near to my father’s place of business, had a pretty tiger cub given him by an Indian hunter, who told him that if he fed and treated it well, it would be perfectly tame. The pretty little thing was admired by everybody, and lying on the rug asleep, seemed the very picture of harmlessness. One day as its owner rested half asleep on his couch, the young tiger lay beside him. It began to lick his hand, and had continued so long, that it rubbed off a part of the skin. The sight or taste of human blood set its whole nature on fire, and hearing a strange howl, the man started up to find his pet tiger, formerly so gentle and harmless, with its eyes glaring like balls of fire, ready to spring at him. Seizing his pistol, he shot it dead. My father used to say after telling us that story:
“The little Bengal tiger is not unlike many a by and girl brought up surrounded by Christian influences, in Christian homes. They seem to be little Christians, but if they have not been truly saved, when they go out into the world, and taste the pleasures of sin, their evil nature, like that of the young tiger, bursts forth in all its native wickedness.”
So you see my dear boys and girls, the only safeguard is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, accept Him as your Saviour and seek to live for Him, not in the ways of a tiger, but like the Lord Jesus, in meekness and gentleness to serve Him and others.
ML 06/25/1944