Save Others - The Gopher Tortoise - The Character of Creatures

This is a chapter from the book The Character of Creatures: What the Animal Kingdom Teaches Us About God and His Word.

Save Others – The Gopher Tortoise

The Gopher Tortoise is the state reptile of Georgia. It is called a “Keystone Species” because it is so important to so many different animals. This tortoise is perfectly designed to dig, and dig is what they do! They can dig a burrow forty feet long. If there is a forest fire, their burrows are a safe haven for many other animals: owls, frogs, snakes, rabbits, insects, and mice flee to safety inside of the Gopher Tortoise’s burrow. The temperature outside might be 1,000°F, yet inside the burrow it’s a pleasant 65°F.

That wonderful little Gopher Tortoise doesn’t do anything to protect its burrow; it lets all come in and provides deliverance from the fire:

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. ~ 1 Corinthians 9:19

Discussion:

1. Did you know that many theologians think that Noah’s Ark was far bigger than it needed to be? There was no excuse for sinners who drowned outside of it except that they wouldn’t trust God and get in! The Gopher Tortoise’s burrow has been called an Ecological Ark because it saves so many animals during a fire. How is Jesus like Noah’s Ark?

2. Can heaven be crowded? Some people scoff at the size of the New Jerusalem, they think it’s far too big. But it’s big enough to hold all of the sinners who would ever come to Jesus! He turns none away who draw near to him in faith. Unfortunately, he will turn many away on judgment day who refuse to come in faith. Read Matthew 7:21-27 and consider why he would let you come in.

3. Do you have a favorite missionary? How did they tell people about Jesus? Who can you tell about Jesus? Read Jude 22–23 and pray about how you can love people in difficult circumstances.

Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself! Be sure of that! ~ Charles Spurgeon