Choosing to Rest in the Greener Pastures of the Almighty
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As I drove past the luscious green pastures with pearl painted fences, I noticed all of the cows grazing for food. It seemed like these cattle were living the life, a nice red barn to sleep in, as much grass as they wanted each day, and basking in the bright sunshine. However, the number on their ears told a different story. The fabulous life these cows have leads to a meat market. The security and comfort which they take in the farm is a false idea of where they are headed. They are being groomed for destruction. I pondered as I rode past that we too can be in what we believe is a “happy place” in our sin, but are really headed for our own downfall.
It is the shock that comes up when another man leaves his wife and kids over an affair. It is the deepening pit of anxiety to feel like you are in control. It is the violent movies and video games that motivate a young boy to buy a gun. It is the tiny bit of credit card debt over online shopping that slowly adds up over time. A little grass here, a little grass there, sunshine here, sunshine there, then we all walk into the slaughterhouse of the devil.
I am by no means saying that we will lose our salvation. However, we can lose our way like prodigals. We can choose to live our lives by the flesh instead of the Spirit.
Romans 8:31 says, “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
But what if, instead of selecting lives that receive great praise from the world in which we live, that we graze in God’s pasture? It is not always easy, there are times when we will walk through the valleys and when the grass looks greener on the other side. But we have to remember that our ultimate destination is leading to a greater reward in heaven. Our Farmer is not out to kill us, He is out to rescue us and restore us.
Proverbs 24:11 says, “Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.” David Guzik says, “Surely we did not know this: We shouldn’t be indifferent towards those headed toward death. Since they often reject God’s wisdom and are hostile, it is easy to give up on them or ignore them. Yet God, He who weighs the hearts, does know and consider this.
Are you roaming in a territory that is going to end badly? Is a loved one straying from the pasture of God? Cry out to the Lord today on your behalf or on theirs. Confess and turn away. I think about the prodigal son. He may not have even had the strength to run to his Father, but when his Father saw him, he ran to his son and embraced Him. May we all look with discernment in every season to make sure that we are restoring and resting in the presence of the Lord and living out His best for our lives.
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