The Grass is Getting Greener
A dear brother in Christ, who like me appreciates a well-groomed lawn, recently told me, “I was informed that I should mow until the first of April..” Of course, we chuckled about that, knowing that our yards already show growth and our anticipated time of returning to our enjoyment of mowing is nearing. We’ve seen a few whose eagerness reached its fever pitch and they mowed their lawns. Too early? Not for them, but as the saying goes, “Once you start, you’ll have to keep it up.” For me, yes I’m eager, but no, I’m not fully ready … not just yet!
There is an adage of warning that says, “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.” It has been shortened and varied at times, but it always means the same: “Things always look better where it is forbidden to go.” Erma Bombeck made the statement very plain when she wrote, “The grass is always greener over the septic tank.” Still, there are those insisting on grazing in forbidden fields of endeavor because of the appeal to the lusts of the flesh, eyes, and pride of our lives (1 John 2:15 – 17). Many have no objections to mowing in such pastures or even adding fertilizer to enhance its appeal. But doing so only increases sin within and the degradation of their souls!
Sadly, mankind seemingly doesn’t fear Satan’s allurements (ibid.) But that is his strongest force to draw souls into sinful conduct. James describes it thusly: “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.” (James 1: 13 – 16) The greener the grass, the stronger the desire to mow it or graze within it! Foolishly, (and remember, the fool is a Godless one – Psalm 14:1; 53:1) souls who are drawn away, enticed, and allowed the deception to conceive sin in their lives try a defense of saying, “I couldn’t help myself.” Frankly, they CAN’T help themselves because they refused to let God the Father help them! (Remember, they FOOLISHLY engaged in this sin, and FOOLISHLY try to defend it!) Thus, they find themselves ensnared in a pasture that while it looks luscious, is without hope, without Christ, and without God! (cf. Ephesians 2: 11 – 12).
While I emphatically enjoy mowing and caring for my yard, the older I get the more I realize the tedious work required for just my yard! I don’t always trim the yard or run the weed-eater. There are times I use vegetation killer in hopes of keeping weeds and other growth from immerging in places I don’t want greenery. But those tactics don’t last long, and to keep our place looking as neatly groomed as I like, I have no choice but to devote considerable work to the task! I get tired. It takes money to maintain my lawnmowers and buy the vegetation killer and other needed supplies. Further, it takes a lot of physical exertion ,,, and for me, that’s a difficult expenditure! Nonetheless, to achieve the appearance I desire for our place, these are the requirements. It isn’t a matter of “keeping up with the Jones,” for they have their own responsibilities. My green grass is my responsibility alone, and therefore it must be my labors that bring to fruition my desire for its beauty.
The same scenario is true for our souls. Satan desires to draw us away from God’s pasture into his deadly fields. He uses every allurement he can to convince us there is no harm in being “friendly” with this old world (see James 4:4). Satan would have us think there are no “fences” between us and God, and therefore we’re free to roam when and to where we wish without penalty. That simply is not so! (John 10: 1 – 18) Yes, the grass always looks greener on the other side: but that doesn’t mean it’s SAFE for the child of God to leave God’s ASSURED care and keeping and wander off into sin’s clutches!
Why Christians often express some dissatisfaction with God’s leadership and protection of their souls is beyond my comprehension! Yes, I know such ones somehow think themselves immune to the dangers of sin they engage in and believe a simplistic, “I repent and beg Your forgiveness” pardons their waywardness in God’s eyes. But such a nonchalant attitude flies in the face of passages that tell us to “Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22) and “Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” (Romans 12:9). The grass is NOT greener where God does not dwell: it only APPEARS to be so, and the deception will eternally damn the souls of those who refuse to remain with God!
So, let’s determine to groom our souls to be pleasing to God. We’re part of HIS pasture, and thus share in the responsibility of keeping ourselves clean and pure in His sight; i.e., free from the blight of willful sin (Hebrews 10:26), keeping ourselves in the love of God (Jude 21). We will find we have enough weeds to rid, enough trimming to do, and certainly, enough grass to care for in our lives to keep us busy as we journey toward eternity with God. We don’t need to venture off from God’s protection (Psalm 23; Hebrews 13:5 – 6) into another field, regardless of how green it may appear.
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Don’t forget our gospel meeting, April 16-21,
Gary Fiscus, speaking weeknights, 7:00