When we, God's children, live as we should, we represent Jesus. We are different from the majority of people who live in this evil world. It is evident in the way that we live, the company we keep, what we eat and drink, our manner of speech, and even our appearance.

A small weasel-like animal, called the ermine, lives in the forest regions of Northern Europe and Canada. It's fur changes from brown to white in the wintertime. It is called ermine only when its fur is white. When it is brown, it is called a stoat or weasel. The white fur of the ermine is very valuable. The ermine are very careful to keep their white fur pure white and not get it soiled. The hunters sometimes find their den in a hollow tree when the animal is not there. They put garbage or dirt around the entrance to keep the ermine from entering. When the dogs start to chase the ermine, it flees towards its home. When it sees the debris at the entrance, it turns around and faces the "yelping dogs, rather then soil its beautiful fur. This usually means death for the ermine.

As the ermine instinctively preserves his purity, so the Lord wants us, as His followers, to be pure and holy. " But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. " (1 Peter 1:15-16). The word conversation, as used here, means more than words. It means our way of life. Although we should be like the ermine in purity, let us not be changeable in our outward appearance like the ermine. We should not dress and act like Christians on Sunday and follow the trends of the world on other days.

Eli A. Yoder .
Feb 8th, 2006

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