REMNANTS FROM OZ
“There are no shortcuts in this life.” Yeah, I heard it, but I didn’t believe it. I thought I might be able to figure it out even if others couldn’t. One of the problems with shortcuts is that the wrong road always takes us out of the way – usually in the opposite direction.
Another problem with shortcuts is that the wrong roads or paths always seemed to be filled with dangers and pitfalls. There’s always a Big Bad Wolf out there looking for dinner. Those spiritual wolves feast on the souls of the lost land and everyone on the wrong path is lost, even if they know their final destination.
That free will is some good stuff boy… Right up until it’s time to face the consequences of a bad decision, a wrong path chosen. After being out there on the wrong road and not winding up dead for a long time makes us pretty savvy characters. We begin to learn where the pitfalls are and where the Big Bad Wolves are hiding.
Ever notice that just like in the children’s story of Little Red Riding Hood the wolves are always in disguise? It’s difficult to tell Grandma from the Big Bad Wolf sometimes. We know the difference in Grandma and the Wolf’s features, different hair, eyes, ears, mouth, and teeth, but we walk in blinded by not our innocence, but our foolishness.
Often we desire so much the things to satisfy our flesh and mind that we overlook the obvious differences that wisdom shows us and danger hides behind. How often have we made a wrong turn in life only to think back in hindsight and realize we ignored all the signs? There always signs, we just have to be looking for them.
When we skip through life, or walk for us more mature travelers, with our head in the clouds, not giving any thoughts to the pitfalls and Big Bad Wolves, we’ll take the wrong turn every time. It is what we know of our Mighty Protector that changes the path we’re on, wherever it’s at, from wide, leading to death, to narrow and leading us home.
God is in the business of redemption. Even wrong choice after wrong choice, we can learn and use the experiences and change our lives from ignorance and shortcuts into wisdom and the right path. Whatever road we’ve chosen, however uncomfortable and ugly, can be transformed into the Yellow Brick Road, from another story you might recognize.
The road that leads to a mighty castle, to a place that grants wishes. A Being that transforms lives – saves souls, and He is no wizard. He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. That supernaturally lit road or path that God transforms from lost to found, from dust and wear to gems and light, calls us and lead us from the dark dangerous wilderness into His glorious Light.
When we get there, for the ones of us that choose His path, we’ll say with the same certainty,
There’s no place like Home… Excerpt from the remnants of oz
April
Friday, April 6, 2012 @ 7:41 am
“Two road diverged in a yellow wood…” I always think of that poem anytime I picture the two roads we can choose to take.
Floyd
Friday, April 6, 2012 @ 10:15 am
I might have to try to make that my habit as well. Might save me some extra wear and tear! Thanks April.
TC Avey
Friday, April 6, 2012 @ 7:53 am
I love relating God in terms/modes the average person can understand. Great job with using a fairy tale to share the message of God!
Floyd
Friday, April 6, 2012 @ 10:18 am
Thanks TC. My simple mind tries to keep things that way. I think God in all His omnipotent complexities that we can never grasp, also has His simplicities, we take it on the faith of a child. That’s when the “mysteries of the universe” are revealed to His chosen.
TC Avey
Friday, April 6, 2012 @ 12:16 pm
Faith as a child, it is so simple and yet we make it so complex.
I think the world needs simplicity and needs God related to them in terms they understand. I have encountered many who don’t understand when scripture is quoted, but they understand when you break it down in everyday language and relate it to what they understand/know.
Floyd
Friday, April 6, 2012 @ 2:38 pm
Good call. My old pastor used to say, “Folks don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” When we care, that’s God speaking.
Jay Cookingham
Friday, April 6, 2012 @ 2:31 pm
I love the fact that God has wrote us in His grand story of redemption…that my friend, is NO fairy tale! Happy Easter bro’!
Floyd
Friday, April 6, 2012 @ 2:40 pm
No argument here! Well said my friend. It is His story, He wrote the beginning and He wrote the ending! Happy Easter to you too Jay. Thanks.
Hazel Moon
Friday, April 6, 2012 @ 5:55 pm
I am reminded of the Children of Israel when they murmered and complained and refused to obey God – they were confined to the other path that led around and around in the desert for 40 years. Some of us still wander at times, but we can see that path we should take and it is only a step away. Hop skip and jump – there it is!
Floyd
Saturday, April 7, 2012 @ 8:33 am
Excellent analogy Hazel. Well said, they are the perfect example of choosing the wrong path. We all are, at least for a time. Thanks for pointing that out! Happy Easter!
Nancy
Monday, April 9, 2012 @ 10:20 am
“Often, we desire, so much ,the things to satisfy our flesh and mind that we overlook the obvious differences that wisdom shows us and danger hides behind.”
Now this statement is truly key. Willful ignorance/blindness and selective listening are our downfalls for sure! So very glad that God can redeem our foolishness if we allow Him. Good encouragements, all! Thanks!
Floyd
Monday, April 9, 2012 @ 6:20 pm
Thanks Nancy. I guess we’re all guilty of it at one time or another, but true wisdom comes when we seek His truth.
Dan Black
Monday, April 9, 2012 @ 10:38 am
I have always like the passage, “The wise may fall seven times but each time they get back up.” The wise person knows the importance of repenting and moving forward after a mistake. Our goal should be not to keep failing and making mistakes in the same area.
Good post and thoughts!
Floyd
Monday, April 9, 2012 @ 6:24 pm
Thanks Dan. Yeah, I’m with you on making the same mistakes over and over. You know what they say about doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results right? Oh yeah…