Saturday, August 18, 2012
“… when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.”
— Luke 18:23 NKJV
Mark Twain was an unbeliever. He attributed his dislike of Christianity to a Sunday School teacher who was a bit abusive in maintaining order in his class. Yet Twain did study the Bible a bit. He once said, “It’s not the parts of the Bible that I don’t understand that bother me. It’s the parts I do understand!”
When God’s word hits us where we live we are confronted with a choice. Do we obey, or do we rebel. Rebellion always brings eventual sorrow. When we choose not to make a choice we are, in fact, choosing not to obey.
Theodor S. Geisel (Dr. Seuss) wrote many stories for adults disguised as children’s fare. The following may, or may not, be one of his.
Did I ever tell you about the young Zode,
Who came to two signs in the fork of the road?
One said, “To Place One,” and the other “Place Two.”
So the Zode had to make up his mind what to do.
Well, the Zode scratched his head and his chin and his pants,
And he said to himself, “I’ll be taking a chance
If I go to Place One. Now that place may be hot.
How will I know if I like it or not?
“On the other hand, though, I’d feel such a fool
If I go to Place Two and find it’s too cool!
“On the other hand, though, if Place One is too high
I might get a terrible earache and die!
“On the other hand, though, if Place Two is too low
I might get some terrible pain in my toe.
So, Place One may be best.” And he started to go…
He stopped and said, “On the other hand, though …
“On the other hand, though … “On the other hand, though …”
And for thirty-six hours that wavering Zode
Made starts and made stops at the fork in the road,
Saying, “Don’t take a chance, you might not be right.”
Then he got an idea that was wonderfully bright.
“Play safe,” cried the Zode. “I’ll play safe, I’m no dunce.
“I’ll simply start off for both places at once.”
And that’s how the Zode, who would not take a chance
Got no place at all — with a split in his pants!
Almighty God, we ask that You help us to choose rightly – always. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Rev. David C. Collins, Re-tired