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Daily Jewel
by Pastor J.T. Carnell, McAlester, OK
“Listening to the Right Voices”
“Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say...” – Proverbs 7:24 (NIV)
Once in a while, eternal truths can be gained from the simplest places...cartoons. There is one cartoon whose characters do not carry guns or fight evil villains and is widely loved by the youngest and oldest...Winnie the Pooh.
In one episode, Eeor, the melancholy donkey, developed a real problem. His friends, seeing he was spending so much time sitting alone on the hilltop decided he was sad and needed cheering up. Ignoring his protests to the contrary, Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Rabbit and Christopher Robin went to elaborate lengths to liven up Eeor's life. One crammed him full of honey and apples. Another tried to teach him to fly. One by one, each of his friends only made his life more miserable as they tried to fill it with 'fun.'
After all their attempts had failed, the poor donkey is seen once again sitting alone on the hilltop, contemplating the clouds. Only then do his friends discover his secret. He's not sitting alone because he's sad--on the contrary, he's discovered the secret of real happiness. As his friends look at the clouds with new eyes, they see what Eeor had been seeing all along--a wonderland of beauty and delight almost too fantastic to be believed.
It seems that at times we all have Eeor's problem to one extent or another. We're surrounded by a culture that tells us repeatedly that we must pack all the excitement, adventure, comfort, fame, fortune-in short, FUN into our lives that we can. The world really believes that this life is all there is. Rewards or punishments in the next life don't exist, or don't matter. If this life is all you've got, then you'd better pack as much into it as you can. This is what the preacher of Ecclesiastes called, "...striving after the wind." Emptiness, futility.
To see what others can't seem to see--the glory of God in this created world is worth everything. The glory of God working in redeemed changed lives.
God’s creation has a beauty, majesty, and essence that no painter can duplicate! No video game can imitate nor can any device of man recreate! No matter how we try, any attempt to create a rock is futile! To create dirt out of nothing is far beyond our capability. Cloning may be a reality, to create new life in that matter from life that already exists is possible, but all it is, is an attempt to be what mankind was not intended to be—God!
To listen to the voices and verbalizations of the creation may not be the death of us, but to attribute eternal truths, wisdom, and purpose for life to them would be like to ignore the oncoming train while walking on the tracks! Only the Creator of Life has the wisdom and knowledge to tell us how to live because He knows the what as well! He knows what will happen if we ignore the warning signs and give in to the “wayward woman.” He knows what we will experience when we break the hearts of loved ones if we fall prey to sin. He knows the guilt, shame and anger we will experience. He also knows what will happen when we do follow His laws and ways—He gives us strength, hope and peace!
What voices are you listening to? What are you paying the most attention to? The creation…or the Creator?
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Thank you Pastor Carnell. This Daily Jewel meant a lot to me, since I'm struggling right now with depression and other things related to it. I do my best to tune out the world and listen to God's voice.
Michelle