It’s that time of year when county fairs rotate around the valley. Some surrounding counties have already enjoyed theirs and Shenandoah County’s begins next weekend. Children are preparing livestock, adults are baking, canning and selecting their best vegetables, and mechanics are gearing up for the demolition derby.
Fairs bring all kinds of unusual sights to town with sideshows and entertainment many never see elsewhere. Beyond the livestock barns, they also exhibit animals such as gorillas, snakes, and other unusual critters.
A friend reminded me of an orangutan that appeared at our fair many years ago. It was more than just an exhibit as macho men could pay $5 to wrestle this beast. If the human could stay in the ring for only ten brief seconds, he would receive $100 from the ape’s owner.
That didn’t seem difficult especially since the animal appeared weak, tame, and docile. He had gloves over his front feet to prevent scratching and a muzzle over his mouth to eliminate bites. How hard could it be? This was an easy hundred bucks.
Foolish victims would pay their pittance and enter the cage. As soon as the door shut and the owner blew his whistle, the primate went berserk. Like ugly on ape, that creature came to life and used his incredible strength to throw one strong man after another outside the ring.
Challengers were told under no circumstances to ever hit the orangutan. But someone did once. And that ape grabbed him by the head and raked his stomach and midsection with his back feet mercilessly. If he had not been rescued, he would have certainly died within the hour.
My father used to warn us that you could never beat a man at his own game. Unfortunately, other fathers either didn’t know that or didn’t pass that advice along, or their sons were too proud to believe it. But a few seconds in the orangutan ring humbled them pretty quickly.
Of course such acts are prohibited today by animal protection laws and many macho men that could have been humbled still strut like banty roosters. But that muscular primate reminds me of many temptations. As we look in from the outside at drugs, promiscuous sex, alcohol, pornography, or other inviting enticements, they appear docile and scrawny. We are strong enough to easily control them.
But when we step into their cages, the Devil blows his whistle and the beat-down begins. Instead of throwing us out of the ring and stopping the nightmare quickly, however, these sins trap us and continue to pummel the life out of us: spiritual life, emotional life, financial life, family life, and all the rest.
Also unlike this outmoded sideshow, these temptations quickly shed their muzzle and gloves and begin to systematically destroy their victims. The harder we strike back and resist, the stronger and more aggressive they become. Unfortunately many succumb never able to conquer these demons.
Thankfully, there is One who is stronger who is willing to fight these battles for us. Obviously, it’s always best not to step into these rings, but for those who already have, Jesus is willing and able to face down the worst that Satan puts forward. Jesus has already defeated the foulest enemy of death and He’s able to overcome all the sins that cause it as well. By ourselves, we are as helpless as a man against an orangutan, but Jesus can conquer any foe.
This doesn’t mean it’s easy or quick. Many times addictions require a lifetime of intentional work. Thankfully accountability groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and others offer help for specific opponents and Celebrate Recovery meets at Antioch every Tuesday at 7pm for anyone engaged in such a battle.
As we head out to the fairs this month, may this sideshow from years ago remind us of temptations that appear harmless but that can dominate and destroy us.
Blessings, George