From the Home Place

Here in Lusk, we are starting the day at 31 degrees, reaching for a high of 58 with hazy clouds and plenty of wind. I guess all of this wind is good for making electricity.

Yesterday, Coffee and I went to the Post Office to pick up a couple of books that I had ordered. On our way there we saw a flat-bed trailer hauling a Razor. You know, one of those loud, fast-paced recreational vehicles. Well, this Razor, like most of them, was mud from one end to the other. I have no idea how far they had traveled to find that much mud, but they had found it and were now hauling it home with them!

I remember back when we got our first television, the automobile commercials showed a station wagon or a really nice-looking car calmly cruising down the street or driving down a paved highway with everyone inside smiling happily as they traveled to grandma’s house.

Nowadays, vehicles are all about speed! Just watch the commercials – Dodge will show you how to destroy desert scenery with a band new Ram cutting cookies, throwing sand in all directions. Ford will show you how to rip through mud holes while pulling an over-loaded goose-neck trailer. And Chevy, they will show you how to tear up mountain scenery with the big wheels of their prized possession. And not to be outdone, Jeep reveals their snow busting beauty.

Yet you will notice, each of these vehicle advertisements appeal to speed and destruction. The amazing part to me is that I suspect most of the people who design said commercials are quite likely people who throw a fit about a farmer “destroying” nature by cutting down trees to plant a field. I’ll guarantee you, there was more mud on yesterday’s Razor buggy than I have stirred up in years and years of ranching. Yet with all of that, we do have one point in agreement, when that much ground is torn up, it will take years for it to fully recover. The same can probably be said about most of our Spiritual lives, after tearing up the ground for years with wild living, I want it to be repaired instantly.

What is our American infatuation with speed? Each day we hear of accidents that were caused by excessive speed! Here’s my point, that same desire for speed has spilled over into most folk’s spiritual lives. It would appear that we want to “accept Jesus into our hearts” and then we want to be a replica of the Apostle Paul within the next year.

My friends, Jesus invites us to go on a long, slow walk with Him. Seldom does the Holy Spirit bless someone with amazing, quick spiritual maturity. Most Christian maturity comes as the result of years of study, prayer or careful obedience. Growing in Christ is seldom a sprint, it usually takes place through a consistent walk with Jesus.

In my opinion, most of the cults have been started by someone who doesn’t want to walk with Jesus, instead they want to run off in another direction with a quicker, easier method of reaching spiritual maturity. Dear friends, may we not buy into such deception.

Read the writing of A.W. Tozer, he will help you understand that you most likely will never fully understand God during this lifetime, yet we should each daily be learning more and more about God, with a desire to be more obedient to God.

Perhaps everything changed with the invention of the microwave. That tin box changed the mindset of most Americans, instant gratification. But you see my friend, that is how the Bible describes the word “lust.” James states it this way, “But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.” (1:14) Isn’t that the point of all of those fast-paced commercials, they want you to lust after one of their vehicles?

James gives us the results of such sin in 1:15, “Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.” The “lust” of today’s microwave culture entices each of us to “go ahead and sin.” Sin by tearing up God’s creation; go ahead and sin by tearing up the life of God’s children. Good marriages, good families and good Christians all take time, effort, and lots of learning. Perhaps way too many young couples have jumped into the marriage vehicle expecting instant gratification, only to find just the opposite to be true? As such, America has one of the highest divorce rates in the world!

So, get yourself a cup of coffee or the drink of your choice, grab you Bible in the version of your choice, and sit down upon the piece of furniture of your choice, and read the Bible. It will help you to slow down, enjoy and grow in faith and obedience. And then tomorrow, repeat the process; and then repeat it again every day for the rest of your earthly journey. Hopefully, before you get as old as I am, you should have a solid understanding of who God is and how He works in your life: slowly, consistently and carefully. You see, God knows that we humans need to slow down and walk with Jesus as a way of life, instead of speeding into destruction.

After all, as we learn to walk with Jesus, we also have time to enjoy the scenery, instead of tearing it up.

Enjoying the scenery with you, Neal