I was driving to a friend’s home on a back country road recently when I came upon a cow wandering along the road—on the wrong side of the fence. I slowed to an even slower pace, hoping the cow would stay and allow me to pass, but, no, she decided to run up the road just ahead of me. All while the rest of the herd was running in the pasture. I barely moved until the cow came to a place where she had a clear view of the pasture and the herd. She finally turned to face the other cows and I slowly drove around her and on to my friend’s house. The friend called the owner to inform him of his wayward cow.
I was reminded of that cow the following Sunday when we sang that old hymn, Come, Thou Fount. A phrase in the last verse says, “Prone to wander—Lord, I feel it—Prone to leave the God I love.” Aren’t we sometimes like that cow? We are attracted by something outside of God’s will and wander toward it. I assume that cow found an opening in the fence and liked the look of the green grass along the road. As she grazed, she lost sight of the opening and her way back in. If we take our eyes off God for too long, we may find ourselves losing our way also.
The Apostle Paul reminds us in Galatians chapter 5 to live by the Spirit. Our sinful nature is always in conflict with the Spirit, so we must be intentional about keeping our lives in step with God’s Spirit.
“So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want” (Galatians 5:16-17).
Christians living by the Spirit will face Satan’s attacks. Praise God, we have help by putting on the armor of God. (Ephesians 6:10-17) It is a battle, but Jesus won the victory on the cross. Look at the words of the second verse of that great old hymn, Come, Thou Fount.
“Here I raise mine Ebenezer—Hither by Thy help I’m come;
And I hope by Thy good pleasure Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger Wand’ring from the fold of God’
He to rescue me from danger Interposed His precious blood.”
Jesus bought us by His blood and sent the Holy Spirit as Counselor, to dwell with us, to teach us, and, I think, to warn us when we venture too close to the “fence.” Satan makes the other side of the fence look enticing and attractive. Beware!
