Pastor's Corner
Sometimes we just don’t want to listen. I remember, as a youngster getting my first fishing pole for Christmas. My brother and I waited a long time and my parents must have felt that we were ready. And after waiting for spring to get here we were able to go out and use them. But first my father wanted us to practice casting. Being the personality that I am I decided that I knew enough and did not need to practice and I certainly did not need my fathers instruction. In my mind I already knew all that I needed so out I went. After getting the line stuck up in a tree several times and snagging the line and tangling it, I found out I didn’t know as much as I thought. Dad was patient and decided to just let me go and make my own mistakes, little did I know that this was one of those teaching moments. Just to let everyone know, you don’t try to cast a line overhand under a tree nor do you release the thumb button until the tip of the rod is going forward. It’s a good thing no one walked behind me, actually come to think of it everyone left the yard when I was casting. I have to say that on my own I caught more tree branches and leaves than I’m wiling to admit. One thing that I learned was that Dad knew more than I did and it did me good to listen.
We live in a world much like that, knowing more on its own than listening to God. Our world tends to change things to fit the desired mold, for the moment. If it feels good do it and truth tends to become anything that we desire. The problem with that mindset is that things are constantly changing to fit the whims of the day and we tend to lose site of our reference point of what real truth is. In the Bible II Corinthians 4:4 says, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” Without a reference point, a stable position from which to view our lives, we tend to wander from one idea to the next, from one opinion to another. As we live this way we lose our point of moral standard and let anything control the way that we live and think, as long as we benefit.
As Christians we are given a standard and reference point a true foundation on which to base our lives. Unlike the rest of the world, a Christian lives under the guidance and love of Jesus Christ. And as the world moves further and further from God, we as Christians are called to come closer and closer to him.
II Corinthians 4:2 says, “We have renounced secret and shameful ways, we do not use deception nor do we distort the Word of God. On the contrary by setting forth the truth plainly…..” NIV
Life is fragile and we are given the option to choose right from wrong. I would invite you to join any of the many congregations in our area for worship this Sunday.
James Watt is a retired Free Methodist Church pastor.