Andy, I live in the "toolies" on a very unpaved out-of-the-way road. In my old-age we have retired to the "good life." Burn wood for heat I cut from fallen trees as winter ravages our place each winter. One of the "perks" is mossy trees---put the moss in water and boil the daylights out of it and drink it for nourishment. Another perk. Animals. Talk about God's sense of humor and---practical lessons we can learn from them.
Two days ago I had my two pigmy goats tied out for a bit of weed and pasture luxury. Mind you, they were tied up for their own good, just days before I had to run off a coyote that was stalking and had gotten within a couple feet of them. So---you would say, the limited freedom I gave them was for their own good. No question, if they were to get loose and roam the range, they would be suseptible to downfall and predators.
In any event, William got loose. That has happened before---but before, he has let me walk right up to him and fetch him by the collar and relatch him on his 25 foot pasture line. This time, he had different ideas---it was as though he were saying: "Hey, this freedom stuff is fantastic, I like what I can get beyond the pasture and weeds."
But to my wife that is a different story. She has some beautiful flowers around here---plus bits of garden---and William of course thinks they are the greatest of delicacies.
In my 'ramblin, I hope you see the point. Free will for William has its limitation for his good and my good as well. I can provide food, shelter, and love---plus not subject him to my wife's wrath (and mine) by keeping him out of trouble---plus I can deliver him from the coyotes---he has already shown a healthy fear by treacherous baaing when confronted before.
I finally coralled William and I think he genuinely appreciated it---for he really wanted to make up to me after putting this old heart to a running test. To him, it was a bit of fun and a game. But of course, left unchecked would eventually lead to his demise.
The point of all of this?
God is in "control" and has given us plenty of rope for our pasture and weeds. Some of mankind has enough sense to learn by God's word that "going beyond the rope" is dangerous and lets him have the reigns---realizing that we have plenty of free-will without "testing" God.
Others, like Adam and Eve wanted to "find out for themselves" what some of those "delicacies" were. That was a fatal decision.
Summation-
a) We can learn by God's Word His parameters and walk in obedience to his grace, love, and forgiveness OR
b) we can learn by experience and disobey his parameters to our detriment
Question of old to ponder: Is grass really greener on the other side of the fence.
Excuse me Andy for my unrefined ramblin, but William teaches me valuable lessons about life.
Have a sensational day.
Why does there have to be a traffic cop?
When I'm in a hurry and don't want to stop?
Why is there a law?
Gets in my craw?
"Officer, why not forget it" as I his chin "bop"
Jack |
