Presumptuous Sins
My best friend in high school also worked with me for
a couple of years installing landscaping and mowing lawns. We shared
many enjoyable experiences working that close together. One of my
favorites is his experience with a goose and her goslings.
Geese are very territorial and protective of their young. On this day,
Bryan got a bit too close on his riding lawnmower. The goose hissed and
flapped its wings as a warning. Yet, Bryan felt he had to finish the
job.
He would get close to the goose and then retreat, trying several times
to take an extra swipe at the uncut grass with each approach. On his
last effort the goose took flight and began chasing Bryan on his
lawnmower slapping him on the head with her wings.
After a lull in the abuse, he looked to the left and looked to the right
and felt he was safe. He drew the mower to a halt only to find seconds
later the goose was not to the right or to the left. It was still flying
right above his head and began the attack again.
With his heart palpitating and panicked he kicked that mower into high
gear and got away from the goose’s wrath. Needless to say, the goose won
the war and that section of grass was left uncut.
There is a lesson for us in this (not just to stay away from a goose’s
brood).
Spiritually, we sometimes like to push the envelope and get as close to
the edge of danger as we can. We may take comfort in looking to our
right and our left and seeing friends, religious people and others doing
the same things.
Yet, we often fail to look above and consider the Word of our Almighty
God. David said, “Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous
sins…” (Psalm 19:13).
Jeremiah said, “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It
is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (10:23). We need not
look to ourselves, to the right or to the left. Instead, “seek those
things which are above, where Christ is…” (Col. 3:2).
Think about it.
October 2005