Sunday, November 30, 2008

Rocks in the Pasture - November 30, 2008

Good Sunday morning! As the wonderful Thanksgiving weekend comes to a close, we are set to begin the last month of this year. For some unknown reason a sneeze attack has come upon me this morning. Outside its the start of winter, inside my nose thinks its time for allergy season. Who can tell what time of the year it is?

Rocks in the Pasture

One day last week, I noticed something on the side of a tire on my truck. Bending down for a closer look, it appears that a rock has at some time damaged the sidewall of one tire. I don't recall where or when, having been out in the pasture both hunting and shooting many times recently, but the damage is there. That seemed to me like a good metaphor for life on this earth. Much of the pasture of this life seems smooth as we drive through it, but the unexpected and often unseen rocks can cause damage to our vehicle. As happened with my truck, the damage may not be apparent until much later. Hidden things in this life may strike our mind at unexpected moments. Surfing the channels on television we may come across an image that we quickly switch away from, but too late we realize later that damage has been done. Internet sites can have pop ups or the so-called pop-unders that offer things that we might be better off not knowing about. Closing the window quickly, almost as a matter of habit it seems these days, only later do we realize that damage has been done.

In case we have not yet realized the fact, we have an enemy in this life. A slinking coyote lurks in the pasture we must cross. At times the enemy attacks directly and obviously, but many times the enemy just takes a nip at us as we pass. In the rush of events and information in this life, we may not notice the damage right away, and this is what the enemy hopes for. However, as in all things in this life, we have both a great hope and a faithful guardian. The Son of God, Jesus himself, has our back, to use the vernacular of the day, and He also promised to return one day. Our strength and our shield, the Lord God Almighty will see us through that huge pasture that is this life. For damage that is done, He offers healing. For hope at the end of our journey, He offers himself; a life poured out on the cross for each of us.

Praise God for the life of Jesus!

Bucky

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