My dad used to have some succinct sayings to get his points across, as in, “ain’t got the brains God gave a goose.” This pronouncement, often hurled at politicians, portrayed a questionable bias directed toward a certain variety of bird-brained intelligence. As I heard it, I felt a sympathy toward all geese.
And another, “how near the edge are you trying to get without falling over?” This question, when articulated with his baritone fullness, piercing blue eyes and drawn bushy brows, proved to be sage advice. It acted as a distinct deterrent for this teen’s edgy behavior.
However, the very thing dad didn’t want me to do, I often found easiest to do. Why is that little shimmy toward the drop-off so tantalizing? Perhaps it reveals our heart’s pull to be accepted by others, to try something which will take us downhill, to experience what will ultimately bring harm rather than good.
We can all probably name someone who has dabbled at the edge of addiction, immorality, lying or cheating which led to a crumbling foundation and ultimately an epic fall.
And, as blind as we are to our own ways, sometimes we need to gauge ourselves to see if we are on the same path.
That progressive journey to the edge is laid out in Psalm 1.
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. (Psalm 1:1 NKJV)
Edginess today is often exalted, admired, and praised.
The Psalmist describes a kind of edginess the believer should stay far from.
Walking in compatibility with what God’s Word calls sin, will always head us as close to the edge as possible. Inevitably sauntering alongside ideas, practices and advice from the world, while leisurely kicking up a leaf now and then, soon brings us to halt and linger there. The teachings influence our thinking, until we finally pull up a chair and take a seat. What began as an edgy openness, curiosity, or even kindness, becomes a place where we dwell.
Counsel or advice of those who don’t know God, leads in a direction which misses the mark of what is right, and eventually, brings us to stay in territory hostile to God.
Thousands of years later, the Apostle Paul says much the same thing.
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (2 Timothy 4:3-4 ESV)
But there is a different way to walk, toward another direction, and a much better place to abide. (Colossians 1:9-12 ESV)
- Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord
- Walk in the knowledge of His will
- Walk in spiritual wisdom and understanding
- Walk fully pleasing to Him
- Walk strengthened with all power
- Walk with endurance, patience, and joy
- Walk with thankfulness to the Father
- Walk to share in His inheritance
That you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (Colossians 1:9-12 ESV)
What my dad pounded into my head was that where I walk, what I surround myself with and who I listen to will eventually determine where and with whom I abide.
“How near the edge are you trying to get without falling over?” he asked.
I know which path I want to walk on. I recognize what knowledge is true. And I am certain in whom I must abide.
Yet, the pull of the world surrounds everyone with its loudness. We can be distracted by its seemingly reasonableness. We may totter at times on a slippery slope of compromise, swayed by teachings unhinged from God’s. We can be tempted to look for tranquility and joy as defined by others rather than by Christ in His Word. And we may at times want to believe the lie that there is something better or more fulfilling than Jesus.
Let’s not walk that edge.
May we walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and in the knowledge of His will, strengthened with His power, and balanced by His grace. May we linger in His presence and abide in Jesus.
Because, He is our solid ground. He will keep us from falling.
Discussion
Loading comments...