A Child Will Lead

The early afternoon sun beamed down on us as we sat on the top of tree-less hill (otherwise known as a bald knob in the language of the Ozarks), listening intently as our tour guide answered questions about the buffalo that were standing in the green grass only a few feet away from our vehicle.  Carefully maneuvering between cow patties (do I need to explain?), he inched slowly towards the massive beasts describing how vitally important the bison were to the Indians of the plains region in the United States.

The children in the seat in front of us gasped with excitement when our guide, Charlie, pulled the tram up the path a few extra feet, revealing the next big surprise.  Two Texas longhorn cattle lay peacefully in the grass next to where the bison were grazing, their massive white horns gleaming.  We were all in awe of how these magnificent creatures could exist so peacefully with each other.

“But, Mister, where are all the elk you promised to show us?”

Ah, the impatience and honesty of a child.  It was what most of us were thinking, we just hadn’t asked the question yet.  We knew there were elk living here as well, but so far there were none to be seen.

“Wait, we have elk here too?” Charlie looked back towards the children with a smile on his face.

Everyone held their breathe in collected anticipation while Charlie slowly pulled our tram down and around the corner of the small hilltop.  And there they were; an entire hillside full of elk, laying down a few feet apart from one another and staring at us with curiosity.  For a brief moment, my heart caught in my chest at the view in front of my eyes.  The elk on the ground before us with the bison and longhorn cattle grazing peacefully at the top of the hill above us.  It was majestic and beautiful and a glimpse of something promised.

The wolf will live with the lamb,
    the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
    and a little child will lead them.  — Isaiah 11:6

“But how can they all live together so well?”

Again with the “mouths of babes” question.  Charlie was quick to respond to this one.

“Well, son, that is how God really intends for it to be.”

One day.  One glorious day the lion will lay down with the lamb.  All God’s creatures (that includes us) will live side by side in peacefulness; in paradise.  It will be as in the Garden of Eden, only better.  Better because we will be there worshiping God alongside the angels and the saints who have gone before us.  Jesus will be our bannerman, rallying all the nations to his side.

It will be amazing.  And I fully believe we are given glimpses of this hope right here on earth if we look hard enough.