The Cowboy

Anyone who grew up watching westerns on TV remembers the cowboy riding off into the sunset.
The cowboy captures the bad guys.
The cowboy saves the day.
Not living near a cattle ranch or any official cowboys, those stories are just stories to me.

However, I know that true cowboys do exist.
They probably live out West or on a ranch in Texas.
They are hard working.
They love the land and love their animals.

When my children were little we vacationed at a dude ranch.
They were able to ride horses.
They were spectators at a rodeo.
They watched the cowboys lasso the cattle safely and efficiently.

It was a recent news story that intrigued me.
It was a story that seemed absurd until I learned that it was true.
It was a real life cowboy who saved the day.
It happened in a Walmart parking lot.

A bicycle was stolen from a bike rack outside a Walmart store near Eugene, Oregon.
It was 10am on a Friday morning.
The woman who owned the bike along with several other people tried to chase after the thief.
They were unable to catch him.

The thief struggled with the gears of the bike he had stolen and had to run off on foot.
Then a cattle rancher, Robert Borba, entered the action.
The rancher happened to be at Walmart buying some dog food.
Borba brought his horse out of its trailer, mounted it, and chased after the thief.

The attempted theft of the bicycle was foiled by this heroic cattle rancher on horseback.
The cattle rancher happened to be at the right place at the right time.
He chased the thief and lassoed him until the local police could arrive.
The would-be thief was arrested and charged with theft.

“When we arrived, there was a large crowd standing around a younger gentleman who was on the ground, the rope around his ankle, hanging on to a tree,” said Chris Adams, one of the police officers who responded to the 911 call.

The cattle rancher was interviewed by the Medford Mail-Tribune.

I seen this fella trying to get up to speed on a bicycle. I wasn’t going to catch him on foot. I just don’t run very fast. I use a rope every day, that’s how I make my living. If it catches cattle pretty good, it catches a bandit pretty good. (Robert Borba)

Robert Borba is new to the city of Eagle Point, Oregon.
Officer Adams said, It appears he will be a good fit.
Eagle Point is a small city and people watch out for each other.
That’s exactly what he did.

A man was watching this unfold as he sat in his car nearby.
He saw the cowboy trot across the parking lot on his horse and go after the thief.
The thief was trying to escape on the stolen bicycle but then fled on foot.
The witness watched as the cowboy lassoed the thief by the ankle.

The thief grabbed a tree and held onto it until the police arrived.
The witness told the newspaper, Best day of my life; I was laughing too hard to intervene.
I’ve seen it all, but I’ve never seen anything like that in my entire life.
The witness added, This guy should be our next president.

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that no one knows but He Himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Our of His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On His robe and on His thigh, He has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:11-16)

We will one day be rescued by a Rider on a white horse.
More than foiling a robbery attempt, this Rider is our Redeemer.
Our King and our Lord rides His white horse; His robe dipped in blood.
Our Rider has a name, the Word of God.

A sword comes out of His mouth.
That sword will strike down the nations that come against God Almighty.
That Sword is the Word of God.
The Word of God never returns void.

…so is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)

Robert Borba set out on his horse and captured a thief in a Walmart parking lot.
Jesus, our Lord and King, will one day capture our enemy.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. (John 10:10)
Jesus, our Redeemer and Savior will ride a white horse foiling the plans of the enemy.

And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. (Revelation 20:1-3)

Jesus, the Rider on the white horse, will lasso the enemy of our souls.
Oh, what a glorious day that will be!
Jesus, our Redeemer, our Lord and King.
Come, Lord Jesus!