When we moved into our new house last year, we inherited nine feral cats. We had requested the previous owners remove them but capturing cats that are wild, proved beyond their ability and even the traps of the SPCA. For you who know me, you also know how much I dislike cats—no offense if you love cats. Thankfully, only three remain. Because we live on a farm with woods up to our back yard, Donna insisted we keep these three to control the rats and snakes.
A small black one, apparently still a kitten, disappeared for a couple of weeks. When it returned, it was so emaciated it was near death. Donna gave it a bowl of dry cat food but it would not eat. We soon realized it was unable to eat because its head was so swollen. We thought that maybe it had been bitten by a snake. She gave it a bowl of milk, which it gulped down. After a couple of days of milk, she started feeding it soft pâté cat food, which it was able to lap up. Its transformation has been amazing. As the swelling diminished, we could see that some kind of animal had bitten the right side of its jaw off. Because it was weaker and unable to defend itself, the two large cats took advantage. They would chase it away, drink the milk, and eat its food. I have always been a person who helps the underdogs in life—in this case, the under-cat. I cannot tolerate anything taking advantage of something else—human or animal. I do not like bullies. So, we both started guarding it from the two bully cats at feeding time.
Well, that’s a long story to get to my point. I was sitting one morning last week on our deck drinking coffee, having my devotion and prayer time while guarding ‘black kitty.’ And as usual, here came the other two determined to eat its food. Instead, they soon became familiar with my size eleven boot and learned I was the alpha. As the wounded kitty anxiously looked around, I caught myself saying, “Don’t worry kitty. I’ve got your back.”
This caused me to remember a study I did on the word Paraclete from the books of John. It is normally translated, comforter, helper, or advocate. The original word Paraclete means one who intercedes on our behalf as an advocate in court. Yet, it has another meaning we can easily miss. In Ephesian 6, Paul used the armor of a Roman soldier as an analogy for the Christian’s armor of the Spirit. One notable observation, it may appear as if there was no armor for the back. However, when soldiers marched in procession, the soldier behind a soldier was the armor for the back of the one ahead. When engaged in battle, two soldiers would stand back to back, as they fought so they would protect each other’s back. The solider standing and guarding your back was known as a Paraclete.
Now apply that to John 14:16, Jesus said, I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper that He may be with you forever (John 14:16), or adding the above meaning, I will ask the Father, and He will give you a Paraclete who will guard your back. John used the same word again in 1 John 2:1, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1). This could also read we have a Paraclete with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous who’s got your back.
I rejoiced the first time I discovered this additional meaning of Paraclete. Yet, when the Holy Spirit brought this to my mind while guarding the kitty, an entire new understanding came to me. The devil has always been out to accuse us before the Father and to destroy us. However, I think all would agree the spiritual danger around us today has escalated to an unimaginable point. As we grow spiritually, we learn the tactics of Satan and recognize his impending attaches. By using the Armor of the Spirit, we are able to stop his assaults. But if the devil cannot come straight at you, he will try and assault from behind so we do not notice his approach.
The back is the most vulnerable. It is what we cannot see. Enemies ambush from the back. If you go on an African safari, you will have one guide in front leading you and another guide walking behind with a large caliber rife to stop any animal coming from behind. Apply this to believers, the Holy Spirit is not only leading us, He is also guarding our back—and does He ever have a big gun. Added to this, Jesus is in heaven as our Paraclete, interceding for us against Satan’s accusations plus He is also guarding our back.
After guarding ‘black kitty’ for a few days, it has learned it can relax and enjoy its meal because one of us has its back. This was a lesson I needed. It is easy to become overwhelmed and anxious in these difficult days. Yes, we must still be on guard and vigilant, but we can also rest in the LORD, because He’s got our back. Worries of the world can choke our fruit. Our focus today should not be the terror around the world today, but finishing the task Jesus has given us.
Sustaining Word for the Week:
Rest in the LORD. Do your assigned task. He’s got your back.