A Lesson from the
Ermine
July 7, 2003
For centuries the garments of European rulers and
judges have been lined with the white fur of an Ermine. The
story behind that custom is one of the most unusual practices of
the animal kingdom.
Since you probably haven't met an Ermine, let me
introduce you to this pint-sized creature. An Ermine is a cute
little animal with shining black eyes and beautiful fur. It has
short legs and a long narrow body that's some twenty inches long
from the tip of his nose to the end of its tail. The agile
animal is found in the northern region of the northern
hemisphere. In summer, its coat is a rich chocolate brown except
for the undersides of the body and legs. In winter, the color
changes to a clear white, broken only by a black tip on the
tail.
If you looked up a picture of the Ermine on the
Internet or at the library, you would be shocked by the purity
of its white fur--I know I was. It's whiter than an egg shell or
a lily and only freshly fallen snow can boast of such whiteness
The Ermine seems to realize the beauty of its coat and takes
great pride in maintaining it. Indeed, the animal's most unusual
characteristic is it's hatred of anything that might soil its
fur. Hunters who know this will fill the burrow of an Ermine
with filth and wait with their dogs for the furry animal to
return.
Once the Ermine spots the dogs the snow-white
creature will dart for the safety of its burrow. But the Ermine
will not enter the soiled safety of its home. Rather than flee
into the burrow, the Ermine will fight the dogs to the death. It
would rather die with a blood stained coat than live with a
dirty one.
That's why the Ermine's fur is used on the robes
of rulers and judges. This sentiment of purity is figuratively
transferred to the fur as a symbol of the purity of justice and
law.
Don't you find it amazing that God programmed an
Ermine to prefer a fight to death over a soiled coat? Think
about it for a moment, his instinct for purity outweighs his
survival instinct. That animal possesses something every Mighty
Man needs. We need to realize personal holiness is a value worth
fighting for. That's no doubt why Apostle Peter wrote these
words in 1 Peter 1:15-16, "But just as he who called you is
holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy,
because I am holy.'"
We must never forget that we're involved in a
spiritual battle. Since that's the case we must daily guard our
minds from anything that would compromise our purity. Take a few
moments and do a quick review of your life. How pure are your
thoughts, words and deeds? If something has soiled your fur, get
rid of it and fight to keep it clean.
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