"Stress Relief" Lesson 151

Lesson 151: “STRESS RELIEF”

We live in a town with two “blinking lights” and a few city enforced stop signs that no one pays any attention to. We do, however, pay attention to who is on the other side of the sign in case we have a back fence tid bit for them. On my morning jaunt to the Post Office and Allusp’s for my caffeine fix, I manage to encounter only one of the caution lights and a couple of the slow down and look both ways signs. My husband by-passes the “hazards” and manages to find his winding way to and from his work on farm to market roads. From this enlightenment you can understand the cautious apprehension of changing lanes and finding turning points in the neighboring city. However, the over zealous fellow bumper car drivers are not so considerate of their country cousins as shown by screeching brakes, sounding horns and a “friendly wave”! An old philosopher (that would be me) penned; “rushing through the cities of life, causes dissention between husband and wife”!

We have tried bringing some of the city bred folks to our home to show them the way to relax and encourage them to enjoy God’s scenery only to learn that they quickly become bored. Their cars sputter and stall when driven under sixty miles per hour and they live in constant fear of getting lost and never being found on the lonely dirt roads. Then there is the disappointment of no one to crowd off of the lane which they consider theirs. That’s life among humans! But is this the way it should be or the way God intended? Not according to John 14:27; “Peace I leave with you” and Romans 12:18; “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone”.

This world of drivers and pedestrians live by the philosophy of “hurry up and stop”. A standard that, in a short time, wears out the brakes of caution and all is bulldozed over with thin treaded tires of inconsideration. As we rush to our self appointed destination we should glance into the rear view mirror and discover who and what we have “laid low”, causing permanent scars. Perhaps we might even see a blessing striving to rise up only to be left behind in a cloud of exhaust, grieving the Holy Spirit in the process. “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you” (Eph. 4:30-32).

We’re changing our course now! Out of the city, passing through a string of small towns and farm land. To my right I spot a herd of goats acting much like what I observed in a large department store a short time ago. Two of them have rushed over to the SAME spot, butting heads in a battle for the SAME clump of grass in a twenty acre spread. There are at least 150 scriptures concerning goats and most of them speak of sacrifice. However, one jumped out at me In Isaiah 13:10-21 during the prophecy of Babylon. “Babylon will be overthrown by God……….jackals will fill her houses and there the wild goats will leap about”. The fact that we still see goats leaping upon any and everything that is in there path tells us that their nature has never changed. Just to throw in a side lesson here, I will add that in Jesus’ prophecy He said that the goats and the sheep would be separated when He comes again. The goats that will be on His left, will be told; “depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:31-46). Is it time to change our “goatish nature”?

The cattle in the adjoining field have a different approach than the goats. They, although in a congregational herd, seem to be oblivious of each other. More human characteristics? You will have to get out your King James Version of the Bible to read these next scriptures. “Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? And to have drunk of the deep waters but ye must foul the residue with you feet? And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with you feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet. Therefore thus saith the Lord God unto them; behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle. Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad. Therefore will I save my flock and they shall no more be a prey and I will judge between cattle and cattle” (Ezek. 34:17-22). In other words; pay attention to those around you than may need some of what you have.

Now we see the pen of sheep, clustered together knowing there is safety in numbers and warmth and protection of a huddle. These little guys depend totally on their shepherd for guidance, food, drink, medical treatment and protection. We have a good shepherd that laid down His life for us (John 10:11); He is the shepherd that is the overseer of our souls (1 Pet. 2:25); He is the chief shepherd that will come and gather us one day (1 Pet. 5:4); He is the shepherd who can equip us with everything good for doing His will (Heb. 13:20) and we live securely in our shepherd’s strength (Micah 5:4). Born again believers listen to the shepherd’s voice and follow the ways of the Lord. We sheep have been promised eternal life and will never perish. This “sheep huddle” is the body of Christ and we should make every effort to cluster together and keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3-4, 14-16) and do not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing (Heb. 10:25).

Phew! There’s a pig pen! Now these little stinkers, if not contained, can cause havoc. They can root up a crop, row by row and destroy a well planned garden, much like Satan destroyed God’s Garden of Eden. The pig, which wallows in the mud, has come to symbolize the complete enjoyment of almost all sins of the flesh, including sloth (Prov. 19:15), selfishness (Prov. 15:27), lust (Matt. 5:28), wrath (James 1:20), pride (Prov. 16:18) and gluttony (Prov. 23:21). He enjoys the mud he is covered with and instead of wasting away, grows sleek with sin. The Lord warned His disciples; “do not give what is holy to the dogs, nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet and turn and tear you to pieces” (Matt. 7:6). The swinish person enjoys wallowing in his sin and will destroy anything in the way of that enjoyment, even the truth. “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 7:24).

We can learn a lot from God’s creations. Remember the command from Jesus not to worry about what we eat and drink and wear. Just look at the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, He said (Matt. 6:25-31) and seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well (Matt. 6:33). Jesus also compares us to good trees and bad trees, saying that we will be recognized by our good (grapes, figs) or bad fruit (thorns, thistles) (Matt. 7:16-20). God sent His messenger ahead of Christ to prepare the way for Him (Matt. 11:10) and then He sent His Son to prepare the way for all who would follow ((John 3:16-18). This way that Jesus will, of course, involve trials and tribulations but can be stress free if we allow Him to do all that He offers. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).