One of my weekly delights is getting time at a local greenbelt corridor near our house. I really look forward to this, and treasure it for its unique way of grounding me back to reality. Depending on the season, you’ll smell the sweet scents of wildflowers blowing in the breeze, the woody and spicy scents from the rich organic soil mixed with the variety of woodlands, and even the green fragrant scents of all the grasses that sway along the path. The trees there seem to be bigger than most around town, and the wildlife is certainly abundant. There are few people on the trail, and so one can easily lose himself in the wonder of God’s creation. It’s here where I’ve met with my God in prayer and thought, and it’s here too where I’ve had the closest encounters with animals. For example, a couple summers back, as I was running along the gravel path–and the grass was at this time over my head–a nice sized whitetail buck jumped out–as scared as I was–almost on top of me. I still remember being so close to his antlers that I could touch them, and then looking into his beady left eye as he was doing all he could to escape the situation he found himself in. Needless to say, I was as surprised as he was :).
Other times, I’ve seen small rodents meandering on their way, wild hogs running or rooting around, coyotes scavenging about, and myriad birds of prey flying overhead. However, there are times–more often than I would like–where I have had close encounters with poisonous snakes. Today was one of those days. As I was riding my bike on the trail, I came quickly upon a copperhead bathing in the sun. As I approached this little critter, I thought to myself, “…this is so much like life.” The more I thought about it, the more I began to parallel this reality to our world.
As wonderful and enjoyable as it is for me on the greenbelt, I have to be aware of the dangers that are always about. To be caught off guard or not paying attention could quickly put me in a world of hurt. Had I not seen this snake, I could have ridden on top of or near him with a chance of being bitten. We all know that wouldn’t be a pleasant experience, to say the least.
How Does This Apply To Us Today?
- Because of sin, dangers are always present…
- Sin and evil entered our world many moons ago in the Garden of Eden, and as a result the earth and everything in it was ravaged and set upon a precipice between danger and defeat. There was a wild-ness that permeated earth’s every part, and a dark-ness that settled upon the lands. The animals couldn’t be trusted, the seas roared with an unrelenting ferocity, and the environment as a whole was irrepressibly violent at its core. In order for man to survive, he had to trust God and walk wisely upon his way. If it wasn’t his fellow man seeking his harm, it was the surrounding elements and animals.
- Survival from the wild has become trivial in many parts of the world, until you find yourself in the elements removed from civilization (ever camped in the rain?). However, even within civilization there is a pervading darkness in the hearts of men that manifests itself in the needless loss of life, the injustices, and harm that occurs everyday. If it’s not a tragic death or heartache at the hands of another human, it’s a tragic death or heartache at the hands of some incurable disease.
- Bottom line, sin changed our world, and–even in our seasons and moments of great delight–we mustn’t become dismissive to sin’s presence.
- Because of sin, we never arrive…
- As much as I want to believe that I can find my so-called “happy place”, I simply can’t–not yet and not in its ultimate experience. There are too many flies to buzz around our heads, too many mosquitos to sting our necks, too many ants to crawl in our picnics, too many tree limbs to fall in our path, and too many snakes to slither across the roads. Until we see the Lord face to face, we never arrive. We struggle. We struggle. We struggle well.
- In other words, the effects of sin are so permanent on this earth that until there is a complete change there will never be an experience of perfection. However, we do have glimpses of it in our moments of delightful walks on greenbelts, or panoramas of majestic mountains, or simply eating good food and sharing life with friends and family. Nevertheless, this world cannot and will not allow us to arrive. But, we do have a hint that that fact doesn’t have the final say. Oh yes, our Lord said in the book of Revelation, “…behold, I am making all things new.” What a promise to lay hold of!
- Bottom line, a glorious day of arriving and finally being at rest is in the future, and until then we–like the faithful saints of old–are “looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”
- Because of Christ, we have hope…
- Jesus said in John 16:33b, “…in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” In essence, the Lord gives the answer to the snakes in the road, the wild-ness of this earth, and the heartache we all–as we age–bear. But, the answer to how He overcame the world is not what you might initially think it would be. No, no, our Lord didn’t overcome the world with a military overthrow, or through some intricate and calculated political coup. Instead, His victory was at first considered a defeat.
- The way Jesus overcame the world was through His death and subsequent resurrection. His death was necessary for all humanity–in order to atone for man’s sins–and His resurrection was necessary for all humanity–in order to conquer sin. In other words, Jesus “emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow.” Moreover, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
- Bottom line, sin was defeated when Christ died and rose from the grave, and as a result the Christian has–through his faith in Christ’s life, death, and resurrection–hope that sin won’t ultimately define or defeat him.
Our world is dangerous, but it’s limited. One day, a new reality of perfect fellowship with the Father will be restored to this earth, and those who are followers of His Son will never face danger again. Turn to Him while there is still time. Turn to the Lord, because the dangers we face in this temporary life will not compare to the danger that awaits those who do not look to Him in faith. Please, turn to Him.
— November 16, 2018