THE ELEPHANTS'S INVISIBLE BARRIER
A curious gentleman was strolling through an elephant sanctuary when something unusual caught his eye. To his astonishment, he saw that the massive elephants were not secured in cages or bound by heavy chains. Instead, each elephant was tethered by only a slender rope tied to one of its front legs. Intrigued and a bit bewildered, he wondered how these majestic creatures, clearly capable of immense strength, didn’t simply break free.
As he scrutinized the scene, puzzled, he noticed a trainer nearby and approached him with a question that had been burning in his mind. "Excuse me," he started, "but why don’t these powerful animals attempt to escape? It seems they could easily do so."
With a knowing smile, the trainer responded, "It’s fascinating, isn’t it? When they are very young and much smaller, we use the same size rope to tie them. At that age, the rope is strong enough to hold them. As they grow up, they become conditioned to believe that the rope can still restrain them. So, they never try to break free, even though they have the strength to do so."
The gentleman was left in awe, deeply moved by the profound implication of the trainer’s explanation. The elephants’ perceived limitations had become their reality, all because of the beliefs instilled in them from a tender age. This revelation not only spoke volumes about the elephants but also mirrored the unseen chains that bind many of us in our own lives.
The moral of the story, teaches us that with faith and a change in our mindset, we can break free from the limitations we think we have. Just as the elephants believed the rope could hold them, sometimes we believe in limitations that aren't really there. God’s word teaches us to have faith like a mustard seed and not to be conformed by our past or what the world says, but to be transformed by renewing our minds. This helps us see and overcome obstacles we thought were insurmountable.
Faith and Belief: In the Bible, faith is emphasized as a crucial element for overcoming obstacles and achieving what seems impossible. Jesus often speaks of the power of faith; for instance, in Matthew 17:20, He says, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." This mirrors the elephants’ scenario, suggesting that a shift in belief can lead to overcoming seemingly insurmountable barriers.
Liberation from Bondage: The story of Exodus, where Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt, is a profound example of liberation from physical and mental bondage. The Israelites’ journey from slavery to freedom required not only a change in their circumstances but also a transformative shift in their mindset, challenging what they believed was possible. Similarly, like the elephants we could achieve freedom if they tested their bonds and beliefs.
Renewal of Mind: In Romans 12:2, Paul talks about transformation through the renewal of the mind, which is applicable to the elephant story: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." This scripture underscores the importance of not being bound by past limitations or worldly conformities, much like the elephants being limited by their past experiences with the rope.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 1:5)
Because of what JESUS did on the cross the chains of sins can no longer hold you